Tablet-woven bands

A belt or sash (opasovačka, posek) is an accessory of women’s, and more rarely men’s, traditional clothing. Women’s belts were used to cinch the basic garment at the waist, while men’s belts were used to fasten outer garments. They were worn in certain regions of the Nitra and Trenčín counties, as well as in Liptov, Hont, and Novohrad. The belts were made at home or by craftsmen using frame braiding or tablet weaving techniques. The method of production determined the patterns and, according to local customs, also the color scheme. They could be plain, without patterns, or single-colored—most often red, blue, or black—or patterned and multicolored. In some cases, strips of cloth edges or various purchased silk, wool, or cotton tapes were also used as belts. The wearing of such belts disappeared along with the decline of traditional folk costume.