Costumes

The costumes of the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Pedro Miguel tries to demonstrate a little of how the people of Faial Island dressed at the end of the XIX century, beginning of the XX century.

Its costumes, as one can see, are simple and unpretentious such as those of their ancestors.
The productive soil of the Azores was always good for the cattle breeding. The farmer wore pants and coat of cutim, striped shirt and wore caturnos. He took the warm milk of the cow and with it the woman churned it to make butter.

Since there wasn’t tap water, the laundry woman gathered clothes to wash in a tub made of cedar-wood and went to the creek or a sink to wash the clothes. She wore a desefe skirt, printed cotton blouse, straw hat and wore clogs also made of cedar-wood.
 

Not only from farm did the islander live. The sea that surrounds us is a permanent invitation for fishing. The fisherman wore a striped shirt, vest, woolen cap and woolen stockings, pants of cutim, and under-all’s underneath the pants. He wore sandals made of cow skin and used a fishing rod made of bamboo cane.

 

The simplicity of the farmer’s costume began to make way for the English and French fashion influences in the 19th century and beginning of 20th century, arriving on many of the ships that docked at Horta’s harbor.
Therefore, those who had more possessions could have suitable clothes, as the one in the picture.
 

Of all the costumes of Faial Island, also known as the Blue Island due to the abundance of hydrangeas, what captivates tourists and visitors is, without question, the Cloak and Cap. It was widely used until the first half of the last century, being worn mostly in the city by those of higher status and because it was more functional there. Nevertheless, one could also find it in the countryside. It was an expensive piece that was part of the dowry.