Blouses with embroidery displayed at anniversary exhibition at National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History of Moldova

The National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History hosts an exhibition titled, Skill and Refinement." The event, organized in collaboration with the "Șezătoarea Basarabia" Community, marks nine years of activity of the group that saves, sews and promotes the blouse with embroidery.

The exhibition brings together 24 traditional costumes made in the last two years by the members of the "Șezătoarea Basarabia" community, presenting a diversity of models inspired from museum heritage and the dowry chests of grandmothers. Two men's shirts complete the selection on display.

"A community that has greatly contributed to the saving and promotion of the Romanian traditional costume for nine years. The entire community was involved in the project to draft the joint file, Blouse with embroidery, a cultural identity element in Romania and Moldova. As a result, this beautiful file was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which makes us very proud," stated the museum director, Petru Vicol.

State Secretary Vladimir Vornic noted the importance of the event for both the host institution and the involved community.

"It is an important event for the Museum of Ethnography, as well as for the community, an important community named Șezătoarea Basarabia. The exhibition highlights our national costume, particularly the blouse with embroidery. This community contributes greatly to promoting the national cultural heritage," Vladimir Vornic said.

A guest from Romania, Nelu Dumitrescu, emphasized the recovery of Romanian identity.

"I am glad that brothers from across the Prut have begun to reclaim their Romanian identity through our costumes, which in the past were not promoted at all. Now, I can only applaud these actions and rejoice together with this wonderful community," said the creator and savior of the traditional costume from Romania.

Ethnographer Varvara Buzilă noted that the meeting had had a constructive character, emphasizing the significant impact of the activities conducted by "Șezătoarea Basarabia" over the nine years.

"This beautiful meeting is a productive one. In the nine years of activity of Șezătoarea Basarabia, a large number of shirts have been saved, sewn, worn, which for us, the residents here, is an unprecedented process. A blouse displayed at the exhibition is indeed a monument of our resistance over time."

The exhibition, Skill and Refinement, can be visited till May 31, 2025.

The "Șezătoarea Basarabia" community brings together women passionate about the Romanian traditional costume, who managed, through dedication and research, to revive blouses with embroidery from all ethnographic areas of Moldova. Through its work, the group actively contributed to the inclusion of this element in the UNESCO heritage, strengthening the identity link between Romania and  Moldova.