Mordovian national costume
Erzya and Moksha folk costumes had reached their complete artistic expressiveness by the middle of the 19th century.
The main part of women’s costume is a white canvas "Panar-shirt", which is decorated by hand embroidery.
According to the cut, characteristic of embroidery, ornament, colour it is easy to identify the ethnic group a woman.
Special circular collars had a hard base which was covered with canvas and embroidered with glass beads, buttons and chains.
The Moksha women wrapped their legs around with white or black pieces of material called onuchi.
Ancient Mordovian embroidery beadwork with coins, buttons, medals and cowry shells usually decorated a festive folk dress.
The main element in the Mordvinian costume was a white canvas shirt, decorated with embroidery.
As a sign of pubescence, girls begin to wear a pulay since 13–14 years old and then it remained the woman`s costume accessory until her death.
Depending on the place of existence, it had a different form: square, trapeziform or as a belt with magnificent fringe.
Holiday « pulay» was decorated with shells, chains, copper buttons, badges, colored beads and along the edge with long, black, red, green or blue wool and with tassels on each side.
It was the clothing accessory of married women and had options for different situations in life and ritual.
In the complex adornments, which included several tiers of necklaces, especially distinguished original round collars on a firm basis covered with a canvas embroidered with rows of beads, buttons and chains.
Erzya embroidery was characterized by a beautiful carpet texture, borders and planes distinguished high relief.
A wide belt, «pulay» with long black strands emphasized hips and women looked slimmer.
The girls most widespread type headdress was headband in the form of a hoop made of cardboard, covered with a cloth and decorated with embroidery, beads- pry syuks.
For Mordovian bast shoes were characterized by slanting wickerwork, trapezoidal head and low edge.
The main parts of a male costume was a shirt Erzi -"рanhard" and trousers -"ponskt".
In spring and autumn they wore "soumanou" representing the coat of black cloth or brown color.
In the summer to work in a field they wore a canvas hood, in winter, it was earflapped fur hat which covered with cloth.
