(Gautier, Teofilo, observed to his book ” Trip for España.1920, that the rubber-soled slippers ” were holding themselves by means of tapes, as the Greek coturnos “)

Espardenyes.

Miquel Rovira.

Blusones

Blusón

If you want to be really Valencian, get yourself a blusón and scarf. The Blusón is an overshirt, said to originate from England in the 19th century, usually black , it is worn with a blue and white checked neck scarf.

This garment, that the “falleros” use and “falleras” (though these of illegitimate form since the ” Junta Central Fallera “ considers it to be a masculine garment and it prohibits his use for the women in the official acts as it signs in the paragraph 2 of the article 64 of the Chapter II ” Of the Apparel “.) nowadays, it has a British origin. It arose in the 19th century in order to prevent the workers of the factories from getting dirty the clothes. Of the English industries it jumped to the continent and was adopted by the Spanish peasants in general and by the garden Valencian one especially. The daily use of the blusón into Valencia turned soon this garment in typical of the “fallas”

The blusón was in the habit of being accompanied on a few “espardenyes”(shoes) and a trousers of “rafia” (Dress Fabric) or similar.. Almost always it was coming accompanied from a low shirt of cotton and a strip of fabric coiled in the waist. It was a clothes of task for the field

Dresses and jewellery, and traditional costumes

It is true that the Fallas festivity has brought about a resurgence of traditional Valencian costumes, bringing back styles from the 18th century rescued from rural treasure chests, second-hand shops and antique dealers. Valencia is the only city in Spain that still does silk weaving on manual looms. Delicate damasks, brocades and flowered silk cloth called “espolín” containing multiple colours intertwined with silver and gold thread combine to form a concert in textile fabrics. Only 20cm of flowered silk cloth can be woven in one day, usually at a cost of 2,000 to 250,000 euros per metre, and a dress normally requires from 10 to 12 metres. Luxury prevails everywhere one looks.

Dresses and jewellery, and traditional costumes

A beautiful outfit is complemented by abundant jewels and headdresses: combs, needles and clasps for hair done up in a bun, covered in gold, pearls and semi-precious stones; pendants, earrings, “joies” (brooches to hold the veil or shawl); pearls, emeralds and selenite, not to mention coral, are the preferred decorations.

Shops selling typical Valencian costumes and jewels – today all of them have Fallas adornments – are very attractive for visitors wanting to acquire a memento of the city and its major festivity. These costumes and jewels merited admiration many centuries ago from illustrious travellers such as Richard Ford, the Baron of Davillier, Alexander Dumas and Théophile Gautier.

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