An interpetation of a ca. 900 CE Birka Grave Find Edinburgh 2020

It is around year 900. A Warrior Woman’s funeral. Her loved ones give sacrifices for her to take with her to the afterlife, food, cloth, two horses. Her weapons are laid down beside her. Her favourite gaming set is placed in her lap. She is dressed in her finest wear. But what is her finest wear? What clothing would this woman who lived over 1000 years ago have worn?

When working on a costume that is over 1000 years old, where none of the fabric, seams, anything is left, how does one figure out what she wore? Looking at the finds from other areas and surrounding time periods. Connecting art, fragments, jewellery with the knowledge of tools, production and value of clothing, to create an image of clothing of the era.
This costume is a plausible interpetation of what the woman in grave BJ581 might have worn.

Personal Project: Designed, Drafted, Cut and Constructed.