Factors that Influenced the Preservation of the Traditional Costume at Villa Badessa and its Loss in Piqeras: The Traditional Costume as a Memory and as an Object

Abstract

The Villa Badessa costume is an integral component of the diverse mosaic of traditional dress worn by the Arbëresh community. This dress is distinctive due to its resemblance to the two-apron type seen in Albania, as well as its notable divergence from other Arbëresh community costumes. The resemblance of their traditional costumes to those of Southern Albania stems from the fact that they originated from the village of Piqeras during the mid-18th century, a period when folk costumes in Arbëresh communities and Albania had developed distinct characteristics, shaped by two different, historical, geographical, and cultural trajectories. In contrast to other Arbëresh communities in southern Italy, the residents of Villa Badessa have managed to maintain the tradition of the men’s costume. Costumes serve as nonverbal means of communication, functioning as codes that uniquely convey individual identities. Costumes can surpass other significant elements, including language and customs, in representing a community’s ethnic identity because of several factors. Even when a costume is no longer in use and is nearing the point of being completely forgotten, these factors act as reactivation mechanisms that draw attention to it visually and physically. This example is illustrated by Villa Badessa, a case in point. In cases where ethnic identity is not under threat, such as in the homeland, traditional clothing adapts due to historical, social, and economic factors, frequently resulting in its eventual disappearance from memory. Over time, the unique features of the costume lose their distinctiveness, weakening its core identity and diminishing its significance in preserving local customs and cultural heritage.

Received: 18 September 2024 / Accepted: 31 December 2024 / Published: 05 January 2025