Sharovary

Sharovary (Шаровари) are a kind of men's pants, part of the stereotypical national clothes of Ukrainian Cossacksare free to hips, often with assembly at the waist, collected at the bottom near the ankles.

Similar pants in other cultures are Sirwal, Salwar, Shalwar kameez, etc., and these are called sharovary or shalvary in Russian and Ukrainian.

The presence of sharovary in the dress of the Ukrainian Cossacks of Zaporizhia is noted by German ambassador Erich Lassota in the 16th century. A comprehensive description of Cossack dress is included in the 1651 book "Description d'Ukranie…" (Description of Ukraine...) by Polish-enlisted French-born cartographer and military engineer Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan. Its translation mentions "sharovary", but narrow linen pants (d'un caleçó) were specified in the original instead.

Today sharovary is an important element of the Ukrainian culture.

Literature

 * Nikolayeva T. History of costume. - Kyiv, Lybid 1996