Andreea Ciortea, one of the founders of the first store in Sibiu Municipality devoted to traditional and reinterpreted hand-sewn blouses known as 'ii' was not content with impressing only tourists arriving in the former Capital of Culture with these traditional folk blouses, but was keen on being present this month, at the European Parliament, alongside designer Iulia Gorneanu.
The exhibition "The Romanian ia - the dowry from home" in the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels was a great opportunity to prove one more time that our folk blouse 'ia' is truly one of Romania's best ambassadors abroad.
"We went with an exhibition of authentic, old folk blouses 'ii' from Iulia Gorneanu's collection at the European Parliament in Brussels. I was saluted by Romanians in the streets, in restaurants. Germans, Latvians, many people from the north and the Baltic countries came to ask me about the ie, to encourage us to carry on our projects to introduce our folk blouses abroad. Indeed, the 'ia' is a true ambassador. I wore our ie from Marginimea Sibiului, in black and white," stated Andreea Ciortea.
"I have heard many times and I saw that the 'ia' is associated with nationalism. It is completely wrong. I believe it is about roots, about who you truly are. When you leave home, the 'ia' is the piece of clothing you take away in your luggage and then you remember who you are and where you came from. When you put on an 'ia', you are aware of your own person," confessed Andreea.
Proud of the Romanian folk blouse 'ia', three years ago, Andreea planned with a friend to open a store simply titled "Ia Sibiu" right across the headquarters of the ASTRA Museum and close to the only traditional art galleries in town, where only traditional folk blouses could be found.
"As a matter of fact, when I started the "Ia Sibiu" initiative, I found out more things about who I was, I went back into my childhood and the story of my grandmothers, who wore folk blouses, whom I saw sowing and embroidering. I did what I thought embodies me," the founder of the "ia" store in Sibiu adds.
"We have our own creations, pieces of clothing inspired by tradition, traditional folk blouses. (...) My greatest joy is when I meet a real craftswoman, who, even if past her prime, keeps the same joy in her eyes. The way she embroiders, and charms the work of her hand, tells me she is alive. I believe Romania needs people who are alive, and going back to traditions makes us feel truly alive," Andreea said.
The best occasion to wear the 'ia' is June 24, when in Sibiu, at ASTRA Museum in Dumbrava forest, the Ia Universal Day will be celebrated.
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