The aprons came to light through the Macedonian apron research project, initiated by heritage consultant Meredith Walker and director of the Port Kembla Macedonian Welfare Association Inc, Mendo Trajcevski. Women from the Illawarra were interviewed about their aprons, and as the project grew an exhibition developed, featuring a selection of the finest aprons and stories from the makers.
The apron is a key element of the splendid traditional costumes worn in Macedonian villages up until the mid 20th century. For the Macedonian migrants to the Illawarra, a journey across the world transformed the woven rectangle from an integral part of daily life into a memento of a tradition and a past way of life. The aprons were made by brides, mothers and grandmothers and had been central, both to special occasions with music and dancing, and to their working lives.
The primary visual impact of the handwoven aprons is a clash of stripes in a central vertical or horizontal seam. Many are made from coarse, handspun wool gathered from local sheep. Some more recent aprons include mercerized cotton and other threads. A typical apron consists of two 30 centimetre wide lengths of tapestry-woven handloom, joined with a central seam, creating a vibrant pattern of multi-coloured weft stripes. Some of the more recent aprons in this collection are highly elaborate with pom poms, lace and sequins. Each region originally had its own specialities, a certain weft pattern or colour. The designs for the women’s handwork were passed down through the generations from existing examples. This became less prevalent as the 20th century progressed.
Once a woman was engaged she spent months creating gifts for her family and new in-laws. Friends would assist, staying awake until the early hours to complete everything. In addition to numerous aprons for herself, she would make twenty to thirty aprons for relatives and in-laws, presented in a large chest. Darker aprons were presented to older women. A dark mourning apron would be worn for one to three years. Thirty to forty pairs of brightly patterned socks would be placed around the men’s necks at the ceremony and a bag was made for the best man to carry the ceremonial sweet bread for the wedding, a lively occasion with dancing and glorious costumes.
These vibrant creations represent a way of life that is fast disappearing. The Macedonian apron research project documents many fascinating stories of Macedonian migrants to the Illawarra. It aims to encourage discussion and documentation of the aprons that until now have been tucked away in grandmothers’ treasure chests.
We would like to thank the generous women who lent their aprons and shared with us the fascinating stories of their lives.
A project of the Powerhouse Museum’s NSW Migration Heritage Centre in collaboration with the Macedonian Welfare Association Inc. Based on an original concept produced by Meredith Walker and Mendo Trajcevski, supported by the Illawarra Migration Heritage Project Inc. and the Powerhouse Museum’s Regional Services.
This article was first published in the Spring 09 issue of Powerline, the magazine of the Powerhouse Museum.