Everyone who sets out to buy a vyshyvanka runs into the problem of choice – which one to pick after all? The question is a hard one today, both in an online store and in an ordinary one. In this article we will try to work out what kinds of men’s vyshyvankas there are, what fabric they are sewn from, which embroidery techniques are used and, most importantly, why their prices differ so much. But first things first.

And to begin with, a little history. We all know that the men’s vyshyvanka is the traditional dress of the ancient Ukrainians. Embroidered elements are known to have been on the clothing of the ancient Scythians, and pieces of embroidered work are found in the Trypillia culture as well. But this garment took on more modern forms only in the 19th century. From the 20th century onwards the Ukrainian embroidered men’s shirt exists as a garment in its own right.

Kinds of men’s vyshyvankas.

First of all, among men’s vyshyvankas one must tell handwork from machine embroidery. Handwork naturally takes time, and so it costs more. Machine embroidery differs little from handmade men’s vyshyvankas — not everyone can tell them apart — and it costs considerably less. It happens that vyshyvankas with machine embroidery are offered by dishonest sellers at the price of handwork, so do be careful when buying the vyshyvanka you have set your heart on.

One should also tell apart vyshyvankas embroidered directly on the cloth and those with sewn-on inserts. Embroidering on the cloth demands more work, more concentration and more skill from the craftswoman, because the pattern has to be even, without knots and with as few carried threads as possible, not only on the front but on the reverse as well. Such a vyshyvanka looks finer, more elegant and more precious. And of course it costs more. A vyshyvanka with sewn-on inserts is more practical and cheaper. You can unpick the inserts and move them onto another shirt, simply giving it a new lease of life or changing the size of the shirt itself.

The types of fabric men’s vyshyvankas are sewn from.

In the old days vyshyvankas were sewn from homespun linen or hemp cloth. Today the choice of fabrics for sewing men’s shirts is far wider. You will come across vyshyvankas made of natural linen, hemp, cotton fabrics and silk, of man-made fabrics of various kinds, and of blends of natural and man-made materials.

The prices of such pieces differ too. Items made of natural materials cost more than items made of fully man-made fabrics, and they call for gentler treatment and special care. Natural materials are far pleasanter and more familiar against the body; they absorb moisture well and let air through, so your skin can breathe. They have anti-allergenic, antifungal and antiseptic properties.

Man-made fibres do not demand such fussy treatment, but they are not always as pleasant against the body. In terms of price, synthetic fabrics are the cheapest. And the happy medium is a blend of natural and man-made materials. Such vyshyvankas are relatively easy to look after and quite pleasant to wear. They combine the hygienic, environmentally friendly qualities of natural fabrics with the practical qualities of synthetic ones. Men’s vyshyvankas made of these materials can be found for any budget.

Men’s vyshyvankas by type of cut.

Here the shirts fall into:

• shirts without shoulder seams;
• shirts with a button placket;
• shirts with a placket covered by a bib front.

Each of these types in turn falls into two more cuts: sleeves with shoulder inserts and gathers (gathered into a cuff), and sleeves without inserts and gathers (with no cuff). And all of that branches further still:

• shirts with no collar;
• shirts with a stand collar;
• shirts with a turn-down collar.

Well then, confused? Do not be alarmed — you do not have to know all this to choose a vyshyvanka. In this case the main criterion is whether you like the vyshyvanka and whether you feel comfortable in it, while the type of cut takes second place. :)

Choosing the colour and the ornament of a men’s vyshyvanka.

When choosing the colour of the embroidery you can go by the eye colour of the future owner. But bear in mind that the palette of both the embroidery and the shirt should bring out the person’s character. Besides, the size or the heaviness of the pattern should be in proportion to the build of the shirt’s owner.

The ornament may be geometric, plant-based or zoomorphic (animal). Every region once had its own features of ornament and its own embroidery techniques. There were separate patterns for married men and for young unmarried men. In time many traditions were forgotten, many spread beyond their own region and merged with the patterns of other territories. As for technique, the men’s vyshyvanka has now kept mostly cross stitch alone. So when choosing the ornament itself, far less attention is paid to the symbolism of the embroidery than once was; the main thing is that the owner likes the pattern and that it suits them.

Choosing the size of a vyshyvanka.

And we would like to say a word separately about choosing the size of a men’s vyshyvanka. For you to be pleased with your purchase and to enjoy wearing it, the size of the vyshyvanka has to be chosen correctly. There is nothing complicated about it; the main thing is that the shirt sits loosely. The table below will help you find your bearings when choosing a shirt. Also, if you would like to buy a men’s vyshyvanka in our store, the description of every product we offer contains a table of the available sizes of the embroidered shirts and their prices. So it will be easy for you to find your bearings and quickly buy the men’s embroidered shirt you like at our online store «Vyshyvanochka.ua».

We have tried to look at the main problems and questions that come up when choosing a men’s vyshyvanka: types of cut, materials, colours and patterns. But for all the variety of men’s embroidered shirts on the market today, the main criterion remains whether you like the vyshyvanka and how comfortable and at ease you feel in it. We also hope that the men’s vyshyvankas you buy in our store will bring you nothing but pleasant, positive feelings, and we will always do our best not to disappoint you.

We wish you happy shopping!