Experiencing the Fragrant Chios island: The Traditional Costumes

As the boat docked at the port of Mesta on Chios Island, I arrived in the early hours of the morning, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. Autumn was nearing its end, and a cool breeze greeted me as I rolled down the car window. It was then that I was struck by the scent of the island - the fragrant Chios. It was a smell that was difficult to put into words, but if I could, I would describe it as something that would define all other smells in the world.

Vessa

Chios is known for its citrus trees that fill the valley with their aroma, but it is the ancient and mysterious resin of the mastic trees in the southern part of the island that truly captivates the senses. Legend has it that the mastic was a gift from Saint Isidore, who sought refuge near Mesta in 250 AD after being chased and injured by the Romans. Exhausted and unable to continue, he found solace under a mastic tree where it is said that the tree wept tears of the fragrant resin. The tears filled the area with their aroma, and the southern part of the island where the Saint was believed to have suffered became abundant with mastic trees.

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Acquire a print of the work from Chios, Greece, by photographer George Tatakis

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Although mastic may have been known since ancient times, with references found in the writings of Hippocrates, it is still a wonder how such a precious substance can be found so abundantly on Chios. Mastic is truly the diamond of Chios, and it is not a rare mineral for the locals. It oozes and solidifies on logs by the roadside, and one can simply stand, cut a piece, and taste its unique flavour. Yet, for the rest of the world, it remains elusive, available only through the generosity of the Chios locals.

This unique treasure of mastic put Chios on the map and brought it privileges in difficult times. The wealth generated from mastic trade allowed other industries to flourish on the island, with silk production and processing becoming a prominent trade. The Chians gained prestige in European palaces by supplying them with exquisite woven textiles.

Elata

During my travels, I have never encountered a place with such a rich variety of traditional costumes as Chios. The island's abundant production of high-quality fabrics, combined with the wealth from trade, has resulted in a diverse array of clothing styles. Each village, in an effort to display their prosperity, developed their unique traditional costumes, resulting in a stunning variety of clothing styles.

I was fortunate enough to capture twenty-one different sections of clothing from Chios, either in their original form or as meticulously crafted replicas. However, there are many more traditional costumes whose details may forever remain a mystery to us. Nevertheless, the surviving garments I documented provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich sartorial heritage of Chios Island.