[Source: Χριστίνα Μίχα, Παραδοσιακές στολές της Κύπρου, Αθήνα 2019] Each region in Cyprus has its own everyday costume which varies in color, fabric, and decoration. Costumes are characterized by unique hand-woven textiles made with the loom. Commonly used materials include cotton and silk. For the outer pieces of the suit, a cotton textile with a white base and thin vertical or cross stripes are used. The stripes usually have the traditional colors: dark red, blue, yellow, orange, or green. The traditional suit is of high importance since it reveals the values of the society, the personality of the residents of each region as well as the circumstances prevailing in the area. At the beginning of the 20th century, Cypriots abandoned the traditional suits since the European way of dressing began to gain ground on the island.
Male: The main element of the male traditional costume is the multifaceted “vraka” (breeches). “Vraka” was made by double weave, cotton woven fabric, made using the loom. It consists of many pieces so that it is big and tufted. Its size, color, and decoration vary according to the region. A large number of pleats was a privilege of the rich since it required more fabric. The cloth of the "vraka" was dyed in dark to deep blue and black colours. The underpants were like “vraka”, but white and worn inside. Along with “vraka”, a shirt is worn. Over the shirt, they wore a cardigan that depending on the area stood out from the cut, the fabric, the color, and the decoration. The Cypriot men's costume is completed with the “zostra” (belt). The accompanying pair of boots were called “podines”.
Female: Female traditional suits have a conservative character, similarly to the folk art of Cyprus in general, without lacking variety and grace. Each costume is a complex work of art, which presents weaving and decoration techniques but also the skill and elegance of its creators. [http://adoulotishakalli.com/costumes-gr] The traditional Cypriot women's clothing with the “sagia” is one of the most characteristic costumes of the Cypriot countryside. At that time, in a conservative society, women had to cover their whole bodies. Therefore, the women wore long shorts to cover their feet up to the soles of their feet. The rustic costume consists of an outer long dress, made of cotton striped or plaid “alatza”. The “foustani” (dress) was a one-piece with a waist or pleats and a wide strained waist which prevailed as an outer garment in rural areas of Cyprus and especially in the plains and mountains. Its color variations were shaped according to the area and its use. Along with the dress they wore embroidered with gold-plated silver apron, and a simple apron with everyday clothes. The costume was always complemented with the shirt, the long shorts, and the boots (low boots for the rural costume and “podines” for everyday use). On their heads, they usually wore two handkerchiefs and their hair was entangled in two long braids, “vroulia”.