The art of embroidery is considered to be one of the most ancient ways of ornamenting clothes and household items. This handicraft has been dated to the 5th-3rd century BC in China. Embroidered clothing had been a mark of wealth in such cultures as India, Byzantium, Persia and medieval Europe. It is mostly used on dress shirts, blankets, stockings, table-linens, towels, skirts, belts and other stuff. 

In Ukraine embroidery has a rich history. This art was believed to be symbolic and closely connected with a number of superstitions. Embroidery was a common practice, an everyday practice for the people. Every Ukrainian lady had to embroider with her own hands all towels, skirts, shirts, wedding dress, handkerchiefs, and other items for her dowry. It was believed that every girl in this way demonstrated her skills in housekeeping and such traits of character as patience, due diligence and facile nature. Nowadays such dowry is outdated, but the art of Ukrainian traditional embroidery is still greatly popular. The colors of red and black, tailored geometric patterns, herbal and floral motifs make Ukrainian embroidery incredibly attractive. In fact, one could never meet a person to look poor in embroidered clothing. The last gives some magic to a person outfitted in such a masterpiece.

So, what items are traditionally embroidered in Ukrainian culture? First of all, it is so-called vyshyvanka – the shirt embroidered in sleeves, neck and cuffs. In fact, it is believed to be one of the oldest clothing with many variants of cut and ornamenting. It should be mentioned that Ukrainian embroidery varies from region to region. Though colors of red and black were the most common ones of Ukrainian embroidery, the “regional” colors usually include blue, white, orange, green, yellow and brown tones. Poltava embroidery is especially famous for their “white-on-white” products. The embroideries of Western Ukraine are considered to be one of the most complex and laborious in the world, because it usually combines more than 10 colors, including colored glass beads as well as metallic thread. Rushnyky (embroidered towels) should also be mentioned. They had a sacral meaning in Ukrainian culture. The walls of houses were decorated with rushnyky. Icons were draped with them. There were some rites connected with these embroidered items, among them were wedding and baptizing ones. Children to be baptized were wrapped in such towel. The tradition of “bread and salt” to newlyweds exists nowadays, rooted in ancient times. Easter ryshnyks are used to carry Easter bread and eggs to church for blessing. So buying a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt or towel can be an excellent souvenir!