The views expressed in the article are solely the responsibility of the author. They displayed the skill of their makers and were regarded as precious possessions. National costumes gracefully combine a rich folk craft heritage with the fabrics and dress styles fashionable in their day.
Folk costumes are basically worn layer upon layer.
E ach article of dress is worn in a specific way and is highly distinctive in its own right, forming an opulent and often colourful ensemble. An effort has been made to preserve these features in the national costumes of today. The two differ noticeably in appearance, though the basic articles of dress constituting the costumes are largely the same. Regional variation is more clearly discernible in women's apparel, while men's attire tends to reflect prevailing dress trends. Only in Karelian costumes is this regional variation so subtle as to draw a distinction between different parishes.