The embroideress Lydia Vetkina was born in 1964 and has dedicated her life to preserving traditional Mari embroidery and costume. The craftswoman has been awarded many honors: she won the prize of the Government of the Russian Federation “Soul of Russia” and the State Prize of Mari El Republic. In addition, she holds the honorary title “People’s Master of Traditional Arts and Crafts of the Mari El Republic”. Lydia Vasilyevna is actively engaged in preservation and promotion of Mari heritage. She has organized an exhibition and workshop about making traditional costumes of Sernur Mari, and published books about the art of embroidery and national costume “The Life Embroidered on Canvas” and “Living with the Sun”.

Lidya Vasilyevna works in an ancient technique, which requires care and diligence,

The traditional women’s costume of the Meadow Mari was recreated by Lydia Vetkina based on an old model, which included a shirt (“tuvyr”), trousers (“yolash”), a caftan (“shovyr”, “myzher”), a belt with pendants (“yshtö”), a headdress (“shymaksh”), woven bast shoes (“yydal”) with wool and canvas footwraps (“yshtyr”). Homespun materials made from hemp, linen flax, and wool were used for making clothes. The embroidery (“tӱr”) was not simply about aesthetics. Its placement along the collar, the hem and on the cuffs served as an amulet. The brick-red color prevailed in embroidery, complemented by black, dark blue, green and ocher.