Bunad Verksted (Bunad studio)

Folk costumes since 1928

Romsdalsmuseet has been working with folk costumes, or bunader, since 1928, when the museum set up its own children’s dance group. Mali Furunes combined the roles of dance instructor, seamstress and museum guide. Furunes created a bunad for the Romsdal region and Romsdalsmuseet’s splendid textile collection provided her with plenty of inspiration.

In the early 1980s the museum was approached by a group of parents from Rødven. They asked for help creating a bunad based on a bridal bodice in the Rødven Museum. The resulting outfit was submitted and granted the status of official women’s bunad for the Romsdal region.

In the years that followed, more replicas of historical garments were created, and Bunad Verksted now produces several versions of the women’s bunad. All the garments and associated silver jewellery are replicas of pieces in the museum’s collection. Both the women’s and the men’s bunad are now recognised by the
Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume.

The costume is based on textiles from about 1800. The vests are copies of different old woollen vests. The vests are all red - the symbolic colour of «life» and accordingly the colour of the bride’s vest. The other parts of the costume are woollen skirts, different pouches, silk or cotton aprons, originally printed and
imported from India and silks from Austria. The belts are copies of silver and brass belts from Romsdal.

A men’s bunad was also recreated, based on a bridegroom’s outfit, the original of which is in the collection of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History).

The Male Costume is based on local costume from about 1800. The jacket is influenced by European military fashion/design. The trousers are made from leather of moose or deer and the vest was made of embroidered silk.

«Rutastakken»-The woven costume became popular around 1850. The woolen textiles were woven locally in a variety of colours and patterns – not unlike Scottish Tartans. The cloth could also be used in male vest and is now often used for children’s costumes like the museum’s young folk dancers.

Opening hours:

Monday - Friday 9 -15.30

Bunad Verksted is since 2019 part of the international Craft Reach network Artisans at Work/Économusée.
An Économusée is a visitor centre where working craft businesses can demonstrate their production techniques live. The centres promote local history and cultural heritage, while keeping craft skills alive and generating increased revenue for participating businesses.

Read more about us here: https://artisansaloeuvre.com/en/artisans/folk-costume-economusee/