Valentina blouse
Origin | Material | Date |
Mallorca | Old cotton | Early 20th Century |
The Valentina blouse is notable for the delicate combination of drawnwork insertions that is worn on both sides of the button and on the front. The closed, square neck is finished with a geometric embroidery of half moons that is repeated on the folded cuff. Valentina's pattern is straight, slightly adjusted to waist height.
Valentina's in perfect condition.
Length from top shoulder to bottom hem: 54 cm. Width from side to side at chest level: 44 cm. Best fits XS.
Heigh of model: 162 cm.
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The garments we offer are all at least 70 or 80 years old, some even more than one hundred. They are all from rural Mallorca, from those dowries which someone first embroidered years ago and were later stored in a trunk and forgotten about.
They are all simple items, hand-made and mainly white. All have tiny details such as embroideries which make them extremely special. You may find two blouses which look similar, but none are exactly the same. Several are embroidered with the initials or first name of the pieces' original owner.
We have searched the island from market to market, home to home, for the most beautiful blouses and gowns you can imagine. We have found old cotton and linen. Durable, fresh and breathable fabrics which are ideal as standard Summer wear.
All the garments you will find here have been completely restored. The process starts at the hands of an expert embroiderer who has carefully mended any imperfections it may have suffered over time. We really want our hemstitches, embossing and loop stitching to look as good as it did on the very first day it was worn.
Next the garments undergo a rigorous cleaning process to remove any hard staining from rust or damp. Please take into account that you may still find a loose thread or some patching or tiny staining that refuses to budge (don't worry we will tell you about it first). We believe that these slight imperfections aren't bad, in fact they are part of the history of the piece.
We assure you that nothing makes your feel as unique as wearing a unique piece of clothing like these ones, being able to imagine who tailored it for its original owner and now for you. Where did she live? What was her story? Or even better, to imagine that maybe it was worn at a particularly important event or time in her life. This, we believe, is quite magical.
Care
Our garments have survived until today because the thread originally used to make them is so resistant. To keep them at their best condition possible, we recommend you do not wash at more than 30º, nor use fabric conditioner and only allow a medium spin. We recommend ironing while the blouse is still a bit wet.