Ia la Antipozi

Antipodean Ia is a group born from the meeting of two Romanian blouses: a heritage Argeș blouse, part of Mihaela Enache's doctoral thesis, and Adina Costache's blouse, a legacy from her mother. Added to this was Aniela Mărgărit's enthusiasm and passion for Romanian traditional attire, a passion shared by all group members. The group focuses on studying and crafting Romanian blouses or shirts. It’s important to note that not all traditional shirts are considered "ii"—only those gathered at the neckline are classified as such. For instance, straight shirts or men’s shirts are not referred to as "ii."

Last year, the "ia cu altiță" (traditional blouse with embroidery at the shoulders) was included in UNESCO’s heritage list as a treasure of humanity. Even here in the Antipodes, we recognize the "ia" as an identity marker, symbolizing the values of Romanian villages, their immense spiritual richness, and the creativity of our ancestors.

Alongside many hours of studying books and old Romanian shirts, learning sewing techniques on YouTube, and visiting major exhibitions in Romania, we draw constant inspiration from Romanian groups dedicated to this art, such as *Semne Cusute în acțiune,* *Ia Râurată Românește,* and *MăiestrIA în acțiune.*

Currently, the group has 11 active members. Newcomers frequently join to sew their own shirts. We use traditional patterns published in the early 20th century, with a key reference being the album by Elisa I. Brătianu, wife of former Romanian Prime Minister Ion I.C. Brătianu.

In the last 10–15 years, the traditional Romanian "ia" has regained the attention of researchers and the general public, thanks in part to its popularity with major fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Tom Ford. It is important to emphasize that this refers to the traditional "ia," crafted in villages before the communist era, not the artisanal versions sold in Romanian markets and mass-produced in India or China.

Exhibitions showcasing traditional "ii" and shirts are held annually at various museums in Romania, such as the Astra Museum in Sibiu, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant in Bucharest, and the Făgăraș Citadel.

This year, on Universal Day of the "Ia," our group organized an exhibition featuring our small collection of old traditional shirts and costumes, as well as blouses sewn by us. We hope this Antipodean collection will grow to include more shirts crafted here.

If you’re interested in learning more about the traditional Romanian shirt or want to sew your own, you can join our Facebook group Ia La Antipozi using this link:  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/434868434016498