The Grup de Dones de Salou (Salou Women's Group), part of an initiative by the Salou City Council and the Institut Jaume I, is involved in creating costumes for the King Jaume I Festival. The aim is to reinforce the historical accuracy of the celebration and preserve the city's heritage.
In the sewing workshop at the Civic Centre, volunteers are using silk, cotton, and linen for dresses and accessories, carrying out valuable artisanal work. The main mission is to craft the attire for the retinue accompanying King Jaume I this Saturday, September 5th.
Six individuals with sewing experience are participating, meeting weekly and also working from home. This year, costumes have been made for 35 musicians, four nuns from Sijena, three knights, and a monk, along with additional 'sayas,' a garment common among women of the era.
The initiative, which began between 2019 and 2020 but was interrupted by the pandemic, has been in continuous operation for approximately three years. This year, 163 costumes made by the volunteers will emerge from the workshop, joining existing ones to complete the retinue of around 300 people. Collectives, entities, and associations from the municipality are also collaborating.
“"For us, it is a pride to make the costumes for the retinue participants. You give your best. I know the effort it takes to sew by hand, make buttonholes one by one, and work on every detail artisanally. It is altruistic work that we do thinking of our municipality, and that is our reward. The volunteers dedicate many hours and much affection to this task."
This year, over 160 costumes handcrafted by women offering their time will be visible at the celebration, contributing to the creation and preservation of Salou's heritage.
