What Irish Working Women Wore in the Late 19th Century | I Made the Clothing of My Irish Ancestors

This video has been 6 months in the making, but at last, I show the process of sewing a late 1800s Irish working women's clothing. In part 1 of this series. I took a DNA test to find out about my adopted father's ancestry, as one of my goals is to make historical clothing I can wear day to day from each of my ancestral origins. My father's side has always remained a mystery, but the test revealed that his father was Irish/Scottish, and his mother was most likely Ukrainian.
If you'd like to watch part 1 of the series, here's a link: • I Found My Adopted Fat...
Irish fashion in general, especially working class fashion, has very limited information, so I felt this was an incredibly important project on many levels.
If you'd like to follow Laura Fitzachary's work, here are her socials:
Instagram - / seekthehistoric
TikTok - / seekthehistoric
Twitter - / laurafitzach
Email - [e-mail]
Website - www.seekthehistoric.com/
And a KZbin channel coming soon @seekthehistoric
If you'd like to purchase the working class fashion book I mention, "Making Working Women's Costume" by Elizabeth Friendship, here is an Amazon affiliate link to do so (and I get a small commission!) Thanks!
www.amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
A big thanks to ‪@Vintagebursche‬ for filming the reveal at the end of the video. Go and check out his channel, it's great.
🕯 Support my art on Patreon - / vbirchwood
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🪡 Follow me on Instagram - / vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries - [e-mail]
Sources:
Rose Madder:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Madison60, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lichen:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Red Skirt Examples:
www.ighm.org/learn.html
costumesociety.org.uk/blog/po...
connemara.irish/news/traditio...
Pampootie Shoe:
www.irishcentral.com/roots/hi...
Soleless Stockings:
/ 1265568479190626306
Barefoot Depictions:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/40138...
Irish Shawls:
www.flickr.com/photos/2849655...
Paisley Scottish Shawls:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Galway Shawl:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
LynnMGallagher, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Irish Terrain:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Mantilla:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ob...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Irish Working Class Fashion 1800s:
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/34234...
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/11596...
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/34234...
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/21392...
ballymaclinton.wordpress.com/...
Northern English Working Class Fashion 1800s:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Simple Construction Garments:
fashionablefrolick.blogspot.co...
Victorian Working Class Fashion:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
witness2fashion.wordpress.com...
“Victorian Working Women” (book)
#IrishFashion #HistoricalFashion #IrishHistory

[@VBirchwood]

Update: Thank you so much for your lovely comments! There have also been quite a few points made in the comments, as well as questions. I asked Laura for a statement to further expand upon the information she presents in the video, as well as clarify. Here's what she said: "A little further elaboration: It is very difficult to summarise Irish fashion in the 19th century. Not only do clothes (and more importantly their quality) change due to the socio-political context they are produced in, but there are also economic factors and geographical factors at play. To give a country-wide analysis of Irish fashion across a century which saw the rural poor experience famine, disease, and subsequent extreme poverty is virtually impossible. When discussing ‘the ire’ and soleless socks, being barefoot was very much a reality - one kept their shoes (if they had any) for Sundays or special occasions. But as we moved into and discussed the later 19th century, the use of footwear was increasing in rural Ireland. The likes of Burt’s Letters and Arthur Young and their accounts date to the much earlier 18th century and even William Makepeace Thackeray notes barefeet (particularly girls and women) on his tour in 1842 - over 40 years before the 1880s-1890s. Being barefoot continued in isolated communities into the early years of the 20th century - but does this reflect Ireland as a whole? Mairead Dunlevy notes in her work: Dress in Ireland: A History that the use of shoes reflected personal aspirations for a more comfortable situation - if you weren’t quite there yet you would certainly still wear your shoes for Sundays and special occasions. Though madder-red was indeed popular, lichen aided in the wide range of colours that were prevalent in Ireland. And finally in relation to the wool cloak, despite it being made of wool it was often worn day and night and often never washed - thus retaining dampness and infection, please see: A.T. Lucas, ‘The Hooded Cloak in Ireland in the 19th century’ for more. For more sources see: Rachel Sayers’ blog post: ‘Red, Red Women: a Red Galway Cloak and an Irish Colleen A.T. Lucas, ‘Footwear in Ireland’ Congested District Board Annual Reports, Bríd Mahon’s ‘Irish Dress’, Caoimhin Ó Danachair’s ‘The Dress of the Irish’ and many, many more :)" This entire project has been 6 months in the making, and here it is at last - the process of constructing an Irish working class ensemble from the late 1800s. Also, if you watched part 1 - right after I recorded the audio for this video, we actually got some pretty revolutionary news about my father's biological father - his full name, ancestral background, and some bits about his life. A big thanks to Laura Fitzachary for sharing her incredible wealth of knowledge with us all and thanks to all of you for your viewership (and patience). See you in 2 weeks for another video! 😊

[@VBirchwood]

@@SeektheHistoric thanks so much Laura! ❤️

[@iainmc9859]

I took a deep dive into any photo's on the internet of Ireland between the 1880's and 1930's specifically looking at shoes. Frustrating how often from the knee down is just out of shot or hidden under a skirt. Here's an overview - Everyone that could afford a laundered shirt/blouse shod. If its a paved street - everyone shod (apart from one wee tyke). Unpaved lane or rural - all males shod (apart from one sitting outside a cottage). Women shod in 70% of cases. Boys over ten shod, boys under ten about 50% of the time, indoors or out. Women shod 80% of the time. Young women under 20 about 50% of the time. Girls under ten barefoot 80% of the time. Boys under five barefoot 80% of the time. The most obviously rural poor the percentages for barefoot increased by about 25%. Over time the incident of wearing shoes increased until by the 1930's everyone baring the youngest children were shod. I discounted any photo's that looked over-romantised or anything that involved getting wet feet, eg collecting water or at the sea-shore. I'm sure its not exhaustive and each observation is merely very general, more of a straw poll than a scientific study:

[@raeperonneau4941]

It’s important to remember, that like most women, Irish working class women, throughout history, liked looking the best they could. My Grandmother was from County Fermanagh and let me tell you, I come by my vanity honestly. 😂 It’s why she sewed.

[@theoriginalsuzycat]

Not to mention the neighbours would tear you to pieces behind and in front of your back if you failed to do so!

[@marabanara]

Yep. Historically, the poor and the working class still wanted to look smart. It was a point of pride.

[@juliaforsyth8332]

@@theoriginalsuzycat Absolutely!

[@WoollenMaple]

My mum was a single parent with very little money. She used to buy the offcuts (this was before they started charging a lot for fat quarters and such, it used to be very cheap) and use them to make beautiful clothing for herself and us girls. There is a picture of me at age five in a beautiful patchwork dress of all blues. This was in the days before school uniform so this was a school photo. Honestly, she and many of the resourceful women of our history are so clever.

[@SadbhW]

As another Irish woman, red was used a lot as protection from the "na daoine sidhe" native carpricious faeries that were widely believed in well into the twentieth century. Liminal places like doors and windows were often painted red, and protective amulets often used red thread. I'd be surprised if the red skirts weren't something to do with this.

[@carolinpurayidom4570]

In india red is also connected with protection and prosperity

[@modkhi]

bright red in china is also supposed to scare off evil spirits/demons/bad luck 😂 fun how that's the case around the world!

[@leighharwood3886]

In the Carribean and American South, the color is haint blue.

[@amayabronagh]

This is the reason for dresses being red in earlier periods in Ireland, so it probably carried forward to 19th century. Also throughout Europe during the Renaissance period, red was considered a warming colour and thus good for women's health, hence kirtles were commonly red.

[@juliaforsyth8332]

@@amayabronagh Wow! This colour history is so interesting.

[@AnnaGirardini]

As old women from Milan, Italy, used to say in their dialect: "cinq ghej de pu' ma ross" = 5 coins more but red. Women of the working class always wanted to look good, even if they could not afford much and wearing a colour such red can be that little luxury that brightens your day, especially when it is to be every day for a long time. This is my uncultured opinion

[@audriscarborough9309]

Uncultured, NO! I would say a valid and valuable opion😊 With joy, Audri

[@mahmoodismail3946]

There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, read the Qur’an

[@Gary-oy1ji]

​@@mahmoodismail3946🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mahmoodismail3946]

@@Gary-oy1ji لا اله الا الله

[@Gary-oy1ji]

@@mahmoodismail3946 🤣🤣🤣

[@leighharwood3886]

American country folk generally went barefoot, saving their shoes for church and school. I lived in a village with a shoe tree. This was the big oak in the town square where everybody put their shoes on before church. There was a storytelling tradition around this tree. I know people who grew up in rural 20th. Century southern states and usually went barefoot.

[@melissajenkins9960]

This is interesting. My mother’s mother’s family was from the south back into the 1800s, and my mother always goes around barefoot unless she’s outside. I do too. Even stepping outside as a kid, I was always barefoot. Weirdly my mother never said anything about it even though her house was spotless.

[@pattyhansen7563]

yup. my grandfather (who would have turned 102 this year) talked about & had pictures of, him & all siblings running around barefoot. And we live in snowy, cold central NY state! He talked about being in bootcamp in the 40s with a good ol' boy from Kentucky. The poor boy's feet were being torn up by the combat boots. He kept getting in hot water for limping around, by the drill sgt. So he told the sgt., "Sarge, you let me take these boots off & I'll hike your ass off." And he did. He out hiked the sgt. & everyone else. he said he had never seen a pair of shoes, let alone worn them. you only had shoes for Sunday Mass & going to school in the winter. Many kids could not attend school during the Great Depression due to lack of proper footwear in these colder climates! Also mud was a big issue. We have 'mud season' here & you would just carry your shoes until you arrived, so your shoes weren't all mucky. Nothing new.

[@gray_mara]

About bare feet: they were also seen as beautiful, as one of the few body parts that could be exposed in public without affronting a woman's modesty, but still carrying the thrill of the liminal. There are songs and stories that describe the attraction of a small white foot, or a small white hand as something so lovely a man might remember it all his life. I'm pretty sure I've even read things like that in mythology. It's easy to discount poverty, since we are so affluent today, but I remember stories from my father about when he was young: poor, in the country, a hundred years ago. Working men wore boots. Women and children went barefoot. When they went in to town once or twice a year, the mother and the oldest child had a pair of shoes, while the younger ones had a blanket draped over their lap -- this is in 40+ degree heat (104F) -- to hide their bare feet.

[@CrystalMouse1]

There’s nothing like the feeling of connecting with one’s culture. I’m researching my Choctaw heritage even though my family wanted to pass as white. It’s something people do in the Deep South. So I’m making regalia and attending local powwows to listen to the elders. The elders have all the stored knowledge and it’s golden to listen and tell the next generations. Halito!

[@gigiw.7650]

@ CrystalMouse1 My family wanted to pass for white in Los Angeles. My brother still does, though he's the darkest of us three siblings.

[@graciemaye6381]

I believe it was the Choctaw who sent a donation to the Irish being starve genocided by the English in the 1840s, there are monuments and an exchange student program to this day recognizing that gesture.

[@graciemaye6381]

Have your DNA done before you invest in learning a culture. It should pick up on the DNA of every ancestor back around 8 generations.

[@snopure]

@@graciemaye6381 Unfortunately DNA tests don't pick up on individual tribes, so they're only helpful in proving general First Nations ancestry, a very broad category. The determining factor of heritage according to certain tribes is an entry of a proven direct ancestor on certain lists, such as the Dawes list for the Cherokee.

[@0Chinese0Arithmetic0]

White guilt is so unbecoming.

[@roisinhackett4320]

I'm Irish and it is annoying that there's not a lot of detailed info about Irish dress history, but one interesting painting, showing the red skirts is 'The Aran Fisherman's drowned child' 1841 by William Fredrick Burton. You can see the pampoonie shoes as well and that some of the skirt was made with a cream or non dyed fabric.

[@graciemaye6381]

Yes in that painting most of the women are wearing a lot of red. Also I wondered what it was up in the rafters, was it nets, or drying seaweed, or something that needed to be dried and cured with the ambient peat smoke for a year, or ??

[@lenoredavi6137]

I am guessing that the pleats and pintucks served a very practical purpose... whenever a woman put or lost weight ( esp pregnancy), she could unpick a pleat or tuck to give more room and then restitch later when her body was smaller again.

[@22RAANA22]

The irish terrrain is definitely suitable for being barefoot. Even fifty years ago many children in the countryside didn't wear shoes to school

[@justgrowthehellup6598]

More like 80/90 years ago in my parents' day and it was down to poverty not through choice. I was around 50 years ago going to school and never saw any child either town or country go without shoes.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

I am a male history buff. I was introduced to Fashion History through Art History. I watch everything from Arms & Armour to Battles to Food to Anything and Everything regarding European History. Plus I worked as a tradesman and have a love of tools, techniques, materials, plans and methods. In my mind you are essentially doing Experimental Archaeology. Thus I deeply appreciate the effort you make in every aspect of your work from the actual constructions to the featured experts, background, context, materials, colours, dyes ... I find it all fascinating. So thank you very much for your efforts. I am subscribed with notifications "on" and I want to soon start exploring your back catalogue. Plus you have a very pleasant and clear style as a presenter. Thanks again, be well and see you again soon.

[@iainmc9859]

There's a simpler answer to the bare feet. Shoes were still relatively expensive for the working classes. If you were 'at home' the familiar ground would already be trodden down and flattened, thus no need for shoes; consider if you have a garden then going barefoot into it isn't likely to result in injured feet. If you were going into 'town' then the shoes would be worn as you were walking further on a surface you'd be less sure off. There's also probably a matter of pride at not going un-shod amongst strangers. Although I'd agree that a 'well heeled' photographer could have possibly chosen bare feet to ruralize the sitters. The truth is that men also tended to get the 'shoe money' before the women, and the women before the children. Children may not have gotten a proper pair of shoes until their feet stopped growing.

[@greenknitter]

Yes my Dad said than when he was in school here in Ireland many of his classmates had no shoes. This was in the 1930s/40s. Life was hard here back then for many.

[@VBirchwood]

I just put a statement from Laura in the pinned comment which expands further, as it's quite a nuanced discussion and she wasn't implying in the video that no one actually went barefoot, just rather that by the late 19th century shoes already became a lot more prevalent in some regions and in various footwear forms. Hopefully that clarifies things a bit!

[@onemercilessming1342]

Bear with me here. There is a sequel written to Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind entitled, simply, Scarlett. It, too, is a long read, but there is part of the book where Scarlett goes to Ireland, from where her father's family originated and meets her people. At one point, she shops at a market day and buys clothes. If I remember correctly, there is a bit of an explanation as to why the bright, vibrant colors even in undergarments. It might be a place to start, even if it is in a work of fiction. Oh, and in 1963, for a junior high school Halloween costume party, my mother made me an Irish colleen's ensemble. I had a green dirndl skirt, an unbleached muslin blouse, a natural linen apron without a bib, and I borrowed one of my grandmother's cotton crocheted shawls. She copied it from one of her history of fashion books from her own high school days.

[@pippaseaspirit4415]

First let me say how much I love this ensemble 😍😍 I’ve been a barefooter for over 20 years (I only put footwear on if it’s absolutely necessary for protection), and over the years I’ve saved a fortune on shoes! I also infinitely prefer to go barefoot. It would certainly make economic sense, if you only had one pair of shoes, to keep them for “best” occasions, so maybe it wasn’t all artistic artificiality!

[@dawsie]

I am the same, all my life, it drove Mom up the wall, I would be out in the snow barefoot and in a dress playing and having fun, where as most of my friends were rugged up to their ears, I never felt the cold growing up as a child in the UK and then in Sydney Australia, it’s only in the past 4-6 years that I have felt the cold, even in the hight of summer where I live in the Queensland Outback where some days can get as hot as 50°c and hotter during the heatwaves. This was not a slow progress but almost over night problem which I finally pegged down to when I collapsed with a massive blood clot in both lungs riding my heart, since then I have been on meds to stop the forming of any more clots, it was when I was finally allowed home that I noticed I was constantly cold up to that point I have always gone bare foot except when working in the garden too many issues with things that can bite and kill, snakes and spiders and scorpions the draw backs of living in Australia it has more deadly spiders and snakes than anywhere else in the world😹😹😹I still go bare foot in the house and when taking the bins out or putting the wheels in on the kerbside. When I have been out anywhere or in the yard the first thing I do is kick off me shoes and go barefoot around the house😹😹 I’m now 60 years old and I still hate warring socks and shoes 😹😹😹

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

I used to be a barefooter. Then I got plantar fasciitis and have to wear shoes whenever I walk. I miss being a barefooter.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! 😊 I just updated the pinned comment where Laura expands a bit upon the barefoot point, since it's quite a nuanced discussion. Hopefully that brings about more clarity, as the intention wasn't to imply that it was only artistic artificiality, rather that the owning of shoes started to become more prevelant by the late 19th century in Ireland. That's why as well she mentions the development of soleless stockings to protect against "the ire" since being barefoot was a reality for many, so they modified that to protect their feet even more.

[@archeofutura_4606]

It'd be really interesting to try and conceptualize what Irish historical fashion could've developed into had the English not outlawed our traditional clothing in the 17th century. At least what it could've looked like by the mid 19th century. I know it's alternate history, but I might try to work on something like that because it's pretty sad that Ireland doesn't really have a distinct cultural dress like Norway, Ukraine, Albania, or other European cultures

[@SadbhW]

Parnell's sisters brought out a line around this concept during the Gaelic Revival. I love them because they're a mix of Iron Age and Belle Epoque fashion, my two favourite eras. Unfortunately they're no longer available to buy. There's a brand called Celtic fusion which does "Urban Celtic" clothes that I really love too.

[@archeofutura_4606]

@@SadbhW i’ve seen those images of gaelic revival era clothes around this concept! I love them too. Too bad that those ideas never took off into a full-on research effort to design a national dress. I think i’ve also seen that urban fusion designer around somewhere too. Grma!

[@cathiwim]

Im wondering if the reason for the red skirts was a little more practical- menstrual blood wouldnt show up as well!(I’m a midwife). This is the first thing that popped into my head, and i dont recall anyone mentioning it! Tampons and pads hadnt been invented yet- they were still using homemade pads of rags(hence the term- “being on the rag”. What think ye?

[@VBirchwood]

Most would’ve worn 1-2 petticoats under the main skirt, so it’s unlikely that menstrual blood would have made it through to the final skirt layer (maybe with a heavier flow, but there’s also a theory that periods were lighter for the working class because of how much hard labour, the stress of poverty, the malnutrition). Additionally, with being such a thick wool, most wool skirts I’d say would be able to absorb a bit if it did get to that outer layer. It could potentially be a factor but also most darker colours, like black, brown, blue, etc. would hide the blood quite well. I wish we could go back in time and ask! Lol

[@watsonmelon6575]

The time and care that you put in to this project really shows and, as an Irish person, I'd love to learn more about fashion history in my country!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! 💕

[@karensykas3809]

Yes! The Galway shawl!!! I am in love this shawl! Maureen O' Hara keep her's after filming in Ireland.

[@SuzetteMorganStudio]

Weaving together your own history, the historical lived context of the garments, and the construction process of this project tells such a deep and satisfying view of history. You are inspiring me to pick up a simple hand sewing project.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy your hand sewing project 😊

[@trenae77]

Watching you recreate your history in fashion has been such an engaging experience. Draws to mind also Snappy Dragon creating an outfit that would have been worn by an early 1900’s Jewish teen that would be worn to Synagogue.

[@caspenbee]

I appreciate you not making it intimidating. Sometimes I watch folks and they've got SO MANY skills I don't have and such a head for patterns and details, and it does make me overthink my own sewing, as you say. Everything you said was clear and the final product is beautiful.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! I think sometimes a lot of skills can get over complicated, but it helps so much to just start simple. Simplicity can be intrinsically complex funnily enough.

[@WoollenMaple]

I think I know who you mean 😉 I enjoy those channels too, but I like that simpler explainations exist as well ❤

[@BethanyDawn_]

Scottish women in the Highlands also often went barefoot! You’ll also often see it with women harvesting peat, very similar to Laura’s account.

[@Maisysmumma]

Shoes that are sitting on the shelf don’t wear out. Once a woman’s feet were full grown she was often given one pair of shoes that she was expected to make last her lifetime. So going barefoot, and only wearing the shoes for special occasions was typical.

[@katjakuitunen6961]

I love this outfit! I myself have never really felt that silks and other fineries are my thing. My ancestors were working farm women, so they would have worn something similar to your outfit. In the area I’m from, the women liked to wear blue as indigo dye was expensive. So, people would have worn white blouses with blue wool skirts, vests and jackets. They treasured their silk scarfs that they bought from traveling salesmen.

[@cadileigh9948]

Welsh womens red flannel petticoats / skirts / were fameously used in Abergwaun / that's fishguard if you're English / to decieve a French invasion fleet because they threw them over their shoulders to look like army uniforms of the time and marched round and round a hill. From sea they looked like an army. Red wool flannel was a staple and though expensive compared with undyed everyone would have a Sunday best that would be worn for years and become everyday wear when tatty. I go barefoot in my garden because thats less slippy and I guess pre universal wellies bare feet would make sense. Lots of people going barefoot these day too.

[@LiljaHusmo]

I love everything about this project, the red skirt, the striped wool 😍😍😍 I deffo recommend the working woman's costume too! It's the one I used for my green blouse for the East Lothian Farmer Woman

[@LiljaHusmo]

Btw are those the buttons I gave you? 🥰

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! ❤️ and yes they are! 🥰

[@connych4796]

In the early 1980s, each summer I spent time in the Aran Islands (a group of three islands in Galway Bay). Some of the older women still wore these clothes to church on Sunday. Older men wore the old style thick wool trousers, held up with a belt made of rope, and pampooties on their feet, working in the fields.

[@IonIsFalling7217]

From my understanding, madder red was fairly inexpensive in large dye lots, hence the redcoats.

[@VBirchwood]

It was more so the lichen that she implies is expensive, since many turned towards lichen for the red from my understanding. I just updated the pinned comment with a statement from Laura for further clarification.

[@magicattic]

The British Redcoats are actually quite famous for the use of cochineal to dye their coats. That is how they got the vivid red.

[@IonIsFalling7217]

@@magicattic Cochineal comes from Mexico and South America, and once the British had invaded, then yes, the officers and finally the enlisted men used cochineal. But before then, it was madder.

[@magicattic]

@@IonIsFalling7217 Wrong, cochineal was being brought to Europe by traders long before the redcoats even existed.

[@Vintagebursche]

It was a great pleasure to help you with this incredible project. The result is still stunning. 🙏🏻❤️

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you again for your help! ☺️

[@fikanera838]

Thankyou for the beautiful video. It shows all the details so naturally. I hope you didn't have to wait too long for such a fine day.

[@Noel.Chmielowiec]

So this is the video that we talked about on instagram! (I'm the one who wrote to you about this book) The ensemble looks wonderful. You were absolutely right, clothes can be simple, worn by working class and still beautiful. It was also really nice lesson about the history of Irish women's clothing. I wish there was more information about those garments. Sometimes I wonder, what my ancestors wore? (From one side mostly Slavic, from the other Slavic and Jewish) They were also quite poor people, so I'll probably never know, so it's especially nice to see that you were able to find history of your people. Wonderful job Vasi!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you 😊

[@smp6441]

My grandpa was born in 1911 in Galway and wore a potato sack for clothes until he was 8 and didn’t get shoes until he went to school. He would stand on one leg while warming his feet on his thigh and then switch. People were so poor they didn’t have shoes it wasn’t just for some photo 🤨 he was also farmed out because of lack of food in the family which was common in Ireland at the time.

[@EnchantKnit]

Looks like your shawl is made of hairpin lace panels, it’s lovely.

[@pyzikscott]

I’m fascinated by this shawl. Thanks for the tip!

[@bria1648]

A note on Mantillas, it's pronounced like Mantiya, given that they originated in Spain. It's a form of head covering traditionally worn in the catholic church, during mass/when in a church. Some Catholic women wear them today but it isn't very common (in most churches)

[@Trassel242]

Also, as someone who’s experienced a bit of hardship in my life, I can see why a working class woman would want a lovely red skirt. It’s very important to get to have and see things that are nice, you can survive off a diet of gruel and only a shed to live in, but getting to have at least one thing that’s just nice and not necessary for your survival is what will keep you feeling like a human.

[@ragnkja]

Gorgeous outfit! I love Laura Fitzachary’s insights too, especially for how people would have adapted their clothes to various situations in their everyday lives, such as tucking the hem into the waistband when needed to have less fabric around their lower legs.

[@kendall7041]

i love the final ensemble! and what an amazing chat with Laura, so grateful you included that. It's so frustrating how little information there is about historical irish dress, though the reasons are understandable, but very exciting that there are more people exploring that history and sharing it with us

[@audriscarborough9309]

Vasi, Your working class ensemble is beautiful! I really enjoyed seeing how you do your button holes and darts! I have been watching in 2-3 minute intervals, since it was posted. That's very difficult since I look forward to seeing your video's very much! Sometimes work has to take presadence. When I get back home from a weeks long convention on mental health; I will definitely re - watch it without interruptions 😊 The photo shoot of you wearing the outfit, is beautiful. The spinning wheel was a lovely touch. The surrounding area is beautiful too. With much happiness, Audri

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much, Audri! I hope all your work things go well ❤️ Warm regards, Vasi

[@orynatsehelnyk879]

Best regads from Ukrainian especially in this special historical time, dear V. Birchwood! You are great in your work! Дякую!

[@gildedgitta]

Oh Vasi this turned out wonderful! Absolutely adore the colour combination! And learning more within the video form Laura Fitzachary's interview was fantastic - I really liked the storytelling in this video. Great work, as always

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@debcarroll8192]

The bodice construction with the pin tucks is so beautiful! This lovely costume reflects my heritage, as well. I hope you enjoy wearing it for many years to come!

[@VBirchwood]

thank you so much!

[@archervine8064]

County Donegal! The discussion of red was interesting. I can see how a working class woman might have been proud of her red skirt. One thing I would also bring up is that red is the color associated with the martyrs in Catholicism - potentially a subtle political statement against the English Protestant rulership?

[@anaquezia5532]

Amazing project! I loved it! So much knowledge being shared, thank you ❤

[@GrainneMhaol]

Great video. I'm Irish and a novice sewer, and I've been struggling to find resources for rural working women's clothes. This is an incredible resource.

[@VBirchwood]

So glad it's helpful!

[@aprildriesslein5034]

This was absolutely fascinating! Thanks so much, and the clothes are lovely!

[@haleyhoudini]

You are a beautiful soul, thank you for taking care of yourself and sharing so much with us. I'll leave you with one of my favorite metta prayers: May you be at peace, May your heart remain open. May you awaken to the light of your own true nature. May you be healed, May you be a source of healing for all beings. ❤

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you ❤️

[@seattlegirl2077]

I've been looking forward to another video, but am I glad to hear that you are taking the time to care for yourself.

[@handofchaos]

This was so interesting. I feel like there isn't enough videos about Irish fashion history. Great job! 👍

[@AmandaWRU]

Another gem, I'm in Northern Ireland and I loved this video

[@andeeanko7079]

Wow, just WOW! I was completely engrossed in every moment of this - every word, every image - extremely well done, intelligence, beauty, and stunning creativity on display here!

[@rebeccapackardlivefree]

You are so very talented. This is my favorite video that you have done to date. As a Scot-Irish American who deeply seeks connection to my ancestors and their ways of life this was a very informative post and have loved reading through the comments. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experiences, and journey through this process it’s so amazing. Also as so much of the day to day life and experience of “common people” has been lost in history your videos and what you share helps to light a spark in the area of the untold stories and encourage others to dig deeper into the history. Thank you. Beautiful work.

[@ericalarochelle3779]

This is the first time I've seen a construction video combined with an interview, which really is a well suited combination. I liked the bird's eye view of clothing trends over decades combined with the hand's on recreation of a specific set of clothing!

[@donnacoleman4624]

I love all your creations, but this is my fav thus far. I too have working class irish heritage and my inner being really connects with this ensemble. I need to make one for myself. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills❤

[@leaf2576]

Wow, your work is stunning. I am also discovering my Irish heritage, so this video was incredibly enlightening and inspiring to watch. Maybe one day I can attempt a similar project for myself. I look forward to whatever you share with us next!

[@LadyValkyri]

It all turned out so beautifully! Great work! Hugs

[@helenhunter4540]

Thank you for this video! It's healing for me to see women making things and to hear your voices.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

The reveal is lovely. Everything is beautiful. I love the look of the pin tucks instead of darts. They have garment ideas with pin tucks dancing in my mind. I will now have to record them! If you made smaller tucks they could be done on the right side as a decorative element. Thanks for the great video and the wealth of information

[@macdaiddavidson8051]

That was fabulous! I have become very interested in 1800’s fashion and history. I’m of Scottish decent and I’ve been looking for this kind of video to help me understand my ancestors a bit better.

[@melsmith5833]

What a beautiful accomplishment! Your sewing skills are amazing! Though I only sew doll clothes, I still like trying to imitate historical fashion. I have not made my own patterns but enjoy collecting and using any I can find. Some I have are of historical look but not actually old. I love searching antique stores for them. Also an antique doll's clothing can tell a story and if I took the time I think I could adapt a pattern from a garment. I enjoyed the Irish history lesson, my DNA test resulted in 18% Irish. Thank you for keeping us inspired with such lovely content!

[@theverbind]

so cool! ❤Love learning from Laura too!!

[@BethAge95]

Love this video! The ensemble is stunning and the history bits were super interesting!

[@VBirchwood]

thank you!! 😀

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

This is so interesting to me. I was so excited when she mentioned 'The Galway Shawl' cos I sing it all the time lol

[@celestialangel61]

You gave me a perfect visual to my own family from Northern Ireland during this time. They were linen weavers in county Armagh, and through this I have the visual of my great great grandma Catherine that I never would have gotten

[@KackyMuse]

So very lovely, what a wonderful process and presentation.

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

Literally tearing up at the end. It's so gorgeously designed. The red is so warming and contrasts with the green grass beautifully. Maith thú!

[@prettywiltsforthee4763]

i absolutely loved this! i see how you collaborate with other experts when researching and presenting us more niche topics which stray away from the generally available mainstream of knowledge and it bring me so much joy!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you 🙂 Lots more niche info to come!

[@fikanera838]

How beautiful, Vasi! It's so interesting to explore the variety of styles in working class dress. Regarding the shoe-wearing, my grandmother, born in Scotland in 1899 into a working class family, once saw an historic etching of barefoot Scottish children 'going to school', & was quite horrified! She insisted that she & her sisters never went anywhere barefoot! In fact, in an earlier time, brogues were created in Scotland to be worn unlined so that water from rain or wet grass could run out of the holes (now purely decorative, layered over a solid leather shoe).

[@stephaniewilbur9748]

Lovely video, great information. And I love your outfit!

[@RianShafer]

I'm glad you are feeling a bit more settled in whatever it is that happened and able to bring this great garment & it's history to us. I wish you peace, you are so very sweet.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@sharmanitascos]

youre channel is so thoughtful and genuine. you're videos are very nicely done and the use of slow motion is much more genuine than the flashy video essay graphics. you are doing a great service to everyone with you're channel and you're 500 years of series is really amazing.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@AmandaIsAwesome]

I like this format of clothing and interview and learning about the history!

[@alexisasheep6554]

Things like red, green, yellow and blue dyes are actually pretty easy to find in nature

[@Trassel242]

This is such an interesting and lovely video, I learnt a lot and it made me reflect on a lot of things. I know that roughly around the same time period in my own country, Sweden, a lot of people from rural provinces moved into big cities like Stockholm because there were more opportunities for work there and so on. Women from the province of Dalecarlia (Dalarna in Swedish) wore their traditional folk dress, a type of dress fairly similar to the drindl of Germany/Austria in appearance, which meant they stood out like a sore thumb in Stockholm where people wore more “typical” 1800’s clothes (roughly like what you might see in, say, London at that time). Interestingly, there was a bit of a similar distaste for bright colours among the upper and middle classes in Sweden; too much colour was somehow seen as “cheap”, and these women with their brightly coloured and embroidered folk dresses just looked like “primitive country yokels” to the Stockholm citizens. And then at the very turn of the century, there was this big movement in Sweden called National-romanticism, which was basically a bunch of upper-class people trying to either preserve or sometimes fabricate the “beautiful traditions and past” of Sweden. So they decided that the Dalecarlian folk dress was the best, and that traditions from that region were the best traditions, and so on. It got ugly extremely quickly, when they started trying to erase everything and everyone who didn’t fit this vision of the past and present Sweden, and if Germany hadn’t gone the way it did (WW2 etc), I’m sure Sweden would have gone that way instead.

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

I love the outfit! What elegant and lovely work you do!

[@ByGollyMissHolly]

This was so incredible to watch! I've also been researching Irish fashion to work on a similar project, in between all the other things that take up my time lol. The piece about how difficult it is to find information online is so true and a huge challenge I'm running into as well. Well done, and how refreshing to talk about an area of fashion history that isn't really talked about at all!

[@greenknitter]

Hi, I'm Irish. Not a historian but is there anything particular you'd like to know? I have a great book about traditional Irish crafts for example. There is also a documentary about the Aran islanders and their dress here on youtube I can send a link to if you like.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much!! Looking forward to seeing your Irish fashion as well 😊

[@gray_mara]

Soleless socks are also MUCH quicker and easier to knit. If you're spending your days working and spending your evenings in a dimly lit room, knitting socks that skip the fiddly bits is a smart move. They also last longer, since the toe and heel are the first place socks wear out, but they retain the appearance of the sock above the shoe.

[@myhandsaslanguage]

Thank you for all the work you put into this outfit and video. Seeing it all come together made me emotional. I think because you go into the reasons behind the clothing and consult experts on the history surrounding it, it makes each piece feel intentional. You put so much care into it, and it looks beautiful. There’s also something special about practical historical clothing. It’s made for a purpose and includes both form and function in a way that really inspires me. I am more restricted in what I can wear at my job, and I can’t make things that stray too far from the modern silhouette, but I’d love to take notes from these kinds of historical clothing techniques. I will aim to make clothes that are practical, comfortable, and beautiful.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much for your lovely and moving comment! I love that you're taking inspiration from these historical clothing techniques and applying them to your own life and wardrobe.

[@darthszarych5588]

I love learning about the history of clothing!!!

[@Ladypuppy510]

I really enjoy your videos. Hope you take off. 1 million subs here we come.

[@magicalaurie]

Lovely, Vasi ! I really appreciate your focus on practical methodology. This is the kind of work I'm trying to do and I'm so glad to see I'm in very fine company! I'll be performing at Almonte Celtfest in Ontario, Canada in a couple weeks, for the third time- busking, and will be wearing a working class style, entirely handsewn dress, and playing acoustic traditional music. I've been looking forward to your completion of this project and it's fantastic timing for me. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful work!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! Have a ton of fun at the Almonte Celtfest, and how wonderful that this video arrived at the perfect timing!

[@deboraharmstrong3002]

The collar ... It was fairly common the make several collars which could be buttoned into your neckline. These could be added onto your bodice on Saturday evening, in order to wear to mass Sunday.

[@dianejohnson1991]

Very beautiful and you have such patience with your work. I’d be like, give me my sewing machine. But your work could be in a museum one day.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

What a wonderful video! I was in love with the idea for this project from the start. I think exploring historical fashion is a great way to connect with your ancestors. I’m wanting to do a similar project for my Scandinavian history which can be traced back to the Viking Age (mid 700s Sweden and Denmark). I’m a Norse pagan and I feel that it would be a spiritual exercise as well as a familial connection as well. Your project has been one of my inspirations, and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your content and bringing us along on this journey. The interview with Ms Fitzachary was so fascinating and illuminating. I have some Irish ancestry too, and would love to explore more there as well. Finally (long enough comment, I know), shout out to Vintage Borche (sp? Yikes) for fantastic videography. I love his channel as well. Take care and thanks for all you do ❤

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! A Norse pagan ensemble would be so cool! I used to live in Iceland for nearly 5 years, and I learned quite a bit of Icelandic then. The ability for Icelanders to still read Old Norse is so moving and impressive.

[@karolealbach1305]

Wishing you well as you integrate from your recent changes. Lovely video.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you 😊

[@danamarcotteseiler7423]

Excellent work young lady

[@WoollenMaple]

My gosh, such a beautiful culture and history. A warm hello from your Welsh cousins ❤

[@Dolly129-]

This is one of my favourite styles to dress in although I don’t own anything close to a Galway shawl I normally wear vintage wool blankets but they work I’ve spent hours in storms waiting for the bus huddled under my shawl

[@pollydolly9723]

Thank you for bringing my Grand Nan to life for me! I think, based on her circumstances, she would feel quite grand in your ensemble. Unfortunately I have no photos of her, but she's more alive now. 🥰

[@pheart2381]

Nice to see photos from my hometown of Whitby.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Granny said red is warmer

[@sheenawarecki92]

Its ok you took a break! Processing and self care from it is more important 💖 idk if you remember my comment awhile back about also needing history on my bio dad but i did find him! So far hes very nice and i have more siblings now 😂 even though its good and happy its still a lot to process and navigate!

[@crochetingaroundnewzealand]

My grandparents came from Galway ❤ beautiful craftsmanship

[@RoseKB22]

Thank you for making this, I'm doing research for my own historical Irish ensemble and in watching this video it's answered a lot of my questions. One was, is the red skirt a petticoat or a normal outer skirt? Your video has confirmed what I observed from all the older photos in my searches. Having the top be just a separate top is great because I was thinking it was an actual over-dress, in some instances. This means I can just add a red skirt to my wardrobe, and make a top to go with it. Thank you so much for sharing your sewing projects, your insight and research is immensely helpful! This is helping me simplify, as opposed to complicating things, (as I have a habit of doing lol).

[@lorenaa_h]

the red skirt reminds me a lot of the traditional clothes (the clothes of the working class and peasants) in some parts of Spain! it's so interesting how different cultures can have so much in common

[@cheesegoddess1]

Real nice. Thank you

[@danamarcotteseiler7423]

Well done

[@pamfrank3962]

Exquisite workmanship and you look beautiful ❤

[@Whisperhollow]

I spin wool into thread and yarn on a spinning wheel. Shoes are not worn for this because you need to feel the feedback of the pedal. Wearing shoes whilst working with ones feet might be quite like a dentist wearing modern snow mitts.

[@disisdakris]

bless your work for all the young female diaspora

[@gillmahoney4742]

❤the sleeves had tucks in

[@katwitanruna]

Gorgeous!

[@honoraweaver788]

Several years ago when I visited Ireland I went to The National Museum at Collins Barracks (I hope that’s the proper name) and they had an exhibit called “The Way We Wore”. Unfortunately they didn’t have anything like your dress. My Irish ancestors were from County Galway, they immigrated to America during The Great Hunger, and I enjoy learning even a little bit of what their lives may have been like. Beautiful dress and amazing research.

[@margaretbagur3553]

Whether old or new there is nothing more beautiful than Irish and Scottish wool and knit items.