Welcome to Ellis Island Vintage, a unique collection of historic ethnic clothing from the homes of our ancestors.
Our mission is to preserve traditional forms of clothing worn throughout the rural regions of Europe by making them available to discerning collectors worldwide. By focusing exclusively on this niche of fashion history, we are able to provide unsurpassed customer service in the field of traditional European dress. Our selection of vintage and antique garments has been personally selected and sourced from remote villages, antique markets, and fine collections on both sides of the Atlantic. Every item we sell is guaranteed authentic and is presented with accurate historical information based on 20 years of experience and ethnographic research.
You will also find a wide range of specialized reference books and postcards related to ethnic fashion, folk jewelry, and traditional textiles from around the world. We invite you to browse our selection and join the growing number of museums, fashion designers, private collectors, textile enthusiasts, and cultural institutions already investing in these one-of-a-kind treasures.
Newest Arrivals
Furrier Folk Art in Slovakia | 1981
$175.00Book Title: Ludove Kozusnistvo na Slovensku Translation: Furrier Folk Art in Slovakia Author: Jarmila Plickova-Patkova Language(s): Slovak with summaries in English, Russian and German Published: Bratislava, Slovakia - 1981 Format & Size: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket - 8.5" x 7.75" Pages: 450 pages Book Condition: Very Good Condition Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good Condition - minimal wear Description: Scarce book about traditional furrier art in Slovakia as it relates to traditional styles of dress and folk costume. Looks at the history and development of the craft through out Slovakia and presents regional styles, construction and ornamentation techniques and designs, master craftsmen, stylistic variations, and much more. Heavily illustrated with black/white photos and color images of actual sheepskin clothing (vests, coats, etc.) as well as furriers at work and the tools of their trade. A stunning publication and a fundamental work for anyone interested in the history of leather and sheepskin clothing in Eastern Europe.
Folk Jewelry in Slovakia | 1972
$85.00Book Title: Ludove Sperky na Slovensku Translation: Folk Jewelry in Slovakia Author: Helena Johnova Language(s): Slovak Published: Bratislava, Slovakia - 1972 Format & Size: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket - 8.25" x 8" Pages: 244 pages Book Condition: Very Good Condition - former owner's name/address label on first page Dust Jacket Condition: Good Condition - light wear and small tears Description: Stunning book all about traditional Slovak folk jewelry. A comprehensive look at the various types of jewelry worn with folk costumes throughout Slovakia. Looks at belt buckles, rings, shepherd pin's, bracelets, clasps, necklaces, hair combs, chains, and more. Hundreds of color and black/white photos with detailed text and informative captions. A seldom covered topic, presented in an informative, illustrated book.
Highlander Folk Costumes from Istebna, Jaworzynka, Koniakow | 2005
$35.00Book Title: Stroj Ludowy Gorali Istebnej, Jaworzynki, Koniakowa Translation: Folk Costumes of the Highlanders from Istebna, Jaworzynka, Koniakow Author: Malgorzata Kieres Language(s): Polish Published: Cieszyn, Poland - 2005 Format & Size: Softcover - 6" x 8.75" Pages: 72 Book Condition: Very Good Description: Excellent small book about the traditional costumes of these mountain towns/villages. Explores the history, importance, and changes to the costumes of Istebna, Jaworzynka, and Koniakow in the Polish Carpathian Mountains. Over 150 color and black-white photos of individual costume elements and embroidery as well as people wearing complete costumes. Current and historic photos. Great resource for this region of Poland.
Swiss Folk Costumes | 1978
$50.00Book Title: Trachten der Schweiz Translation: Swiss Folk Costumes Author: Lotti Schurch Language(s): French Published: Bern, Switzerland - 1984 Format & Size: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket - 9" x 11.5" Pages: 234 Book Condition: Very Good Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good - light wear Description: Beautiful book about the regional folk costumes of Switzerland. Each page is illustrated with color photos of men, women and children in the local dress. A great resource on Swiss costumes.
Traditional Belarusian Costume | 2024
$120.00Book Title: Tradycyjny bielaruski kascium Translation: Traditional Belarusian Costume Author: Maryja Vinnikava Language(s): Belarusian, Russian, English Published: Minsk, Belarus - 2024 Format & Size: Hardcover - 9" x 11.5" Pages: 304 Book Condition: New Description: Excellent book about traditional costumes of Belarus. Beautifully published with color photos of the local styles worn in each of the geographic regions of the country. Includes photos of embroidery and weaving details from some of the garments. A fine addition to your collection.
Folk Ornamentation of Zavod | 2019
$80.00Book Title: Sigillum Zavodiense - Ludova Ornamentika Translation: The Seal of Zavod - Folk Ornamentation Author: Peter Vrablec Language(s): Slovak Published: Zavod, Slovakia - 2019 Format & Size: Hardcover - 8.5" x 12" Pages: 150 Book Condition: Like New Description: Beautiful book presenting traditional designs from the village of Zavod (similar to those of Sekule and Moravsky Svaty Jan). The author examines the designs from domestic textiles (curtains, bed covers, funeral cloths), folk costumes (caps, aprons, shawls), and wooden objects (furniture, carvings, cemetary crosses). Most of the items are from the author's personal collection, which he has amassed while serving many years as the village's mayor. A beautiful catalog of traditional motifs.
Folk Costumes of Norway | 1995
$80.00Book Title: Folk Costumes of Norway Author: Heidi Fossnes Language(s): English Published: Norway - 1995 Format & Size: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket - 9.5" x 12.25" Pages: 126 Book Condition: Very Good Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good - minimal scuffing and surface wear Description: Beautiful, large book about the traditional folk costumes of Norway. Each region has its own bunad or festive dress and this book presents the different regional varieties in stunning color photos. A fabulous book for anyone interested in European folk costume and Norwegian culture. The book is written in English plus each photograph has a short caption in French, English and German. Longer captions are provided at the back of the book and are in English only. Highly recommended!
Ukrainian Beaded Folk Jewelry | 2023
$55.00Book Title: Ukrainsky Nardony Priklasi z Biseru Translation: Ukrainian Beaded Folk Jewelry Author: Olena Fedorchuk Language(s): Ukrainian Published: Lviv, Ukraine - 2023 Format & Size: Hardcover - 8.25" x 10.5" Pages: 120 Book Condition: Like New Description: Second edition of this lovely book about traditional beaded folk jewelry from Ukraine. Lavishly illustrated with many black/white photos plus 111 examples of regional jewelry shown in color. An excellent resource for anyone interested in peasant costumes and ethnic jewelry.
Polish Folk Art: Lowicz | 2001
$85.00Book Title: Polska Sztuka Ludowa: Lowicz Translation: Polish Folk Art: Lowicz Author: Elzbieta Miszczynska Language(s): Polish & English Published: Warsaw, Poland - 2001 Format & Size: Hardcover - 9.5" x 11.5" Pages: 128 Book Condition: Very Good - light wear Description: Certainly the most elegant book published to date in terms of photography of folk art from the Lowicz region of Poland. Two full pages of text (1 Polish, 1 English) and the rest of the book is impressive color photography of folk art, focused heavily on folk costumes and paper cuttings. Captions to the photos are both in Polish and English. The book is arranged by seasons (Winter, Spring, etc.) and shows many variations of folk art as it changed throughout the year, i.e. different costume elements (coats only in winter, etc.). Besides costumes and paper art the book also includes photographs of ceramics, religious art, basket weaving, textiles, and reproductions of antique postcards featuring folk art. Highly recommended.
Folk Art in the Podhale Region – Embroidery on Clothing | 2023
$75.00Book Title: Sztuka ludowa na Podhalu - Czesc V: Wyszycia na ubiorach Translation: Folk Art in the Podhale Region - Part 5: Embroidery on Clothing Author: Stanislawa Barabasz Language(s): Polish and English Published: Zakopane, Poland - 2023 Format & Size: Folio - 9.25" x 12.5" Pages: 48 Book Condition: New Description: Gorgeous re-edition of a manuscript presenting traditional embroidery patterns from goral folk costumes of the Podhale region. The set includes a booklet of text and photos plus 52 plates showing 92 drawings of regional garments, all housed in an elegant folio cover.
Folk Dress in Mokry Haj | 2019
$78.00Book Title: Mokrohajske cara - Kroje v Mokrom Haji Translation: Charm of Mokry Haj - Folk Dress in Mokry Haj Author: Eva Tokosova Language(s): Slovak Published: Mokry Haj, Slovakia - 2019 Format & Size: Hardcover - 8.5" x 11" Pages: 198 Book Condition: New Description: Stunning book about the folk costumes of the village of Mokry Haj near Holic. Lavishly illustrated with color photos showing the many variations of the local folk dress from everyday wear to wedding garb and from childrens clothing to that of the elderly. One of the most visually captivating books on Slovak folk dress published in recent years and all from just one village!
Wedding Folk Costumes of Slovaks in Hungary | 2017
$75.00Book Title: Svadobne kroje Slovakov v Madarsku / Magyarorszagi Szlovakok Eskuvoi Nepviselete Translation: Wedding Folk Costumes of Slovaks in Hungary Author: Ruzenka Egyedova Language(s): Slovak and Hungarian Published: Budapest, Hungary - 2017 Format & Size: Hardcover - 8.5" x 11.75" Pages: 144 Book Condition: New Description: Album presenting traditional wedding folk dress of the Slovak ethnic minority in Hungary. Includes approximately 50 wedding couples wearing clothing preserving the Slovak culture in over 40 villages throughout Hungary.
Treasures of Czech Folk Art | 2019
$60.00Book Title: Poklady Lidoveho Umeni Translation: Treasures of Folk Art Author: Ludvik Baran & Kitka Stankova Language(s): Czech Published: Prague, Czechia - 2019 Format & Size: Hardcover with Dust Jacket - 8.75" x 11.25" Pages: 384 Book Condition: Like New Dust Jacket Condition: Like New Description: Beautiful book about Czech folk art and culture. Organized into thematic sections with text and stunning photos. Full table of content shown in the photos.
Ukrainian Artistic Embroidery | 1989
$65.00Book Title: Khudozhne Vishivannia Translation: Artistic Embroidery Author: E.O. Hasiuk Language(s): Ukrainian & Russian Published: Kiev, Ukraine - 1989 Format & Size: Hardcover - 8.25" x 10" Pages: 240 pages Book Condition: Very Good Condition Description: Excellent resource on Ukrainian folk embroidery. Over 100 b/w images (primarily stitching technique) plus 135 color patterns and designs used on embroidered costumes, clothing, and various textiles. All text in both Ukrainian and Russian. Includes patterns for embroidery to use on folk costumes, tablecloths, ethnic textiles, embroidered napkins, runners, cloths, and more.
Women’s Bukovinian Sorochka | 2018
$100.00Book Title: Bukovynski Zhinochi Sorochky Translation: Women's Bukovinian Sorochka Author: Taras Lovinskiy & Lyudmila Bulhakova-Sitnik Language(s): Ukrainian and English Published: Kiev, Ukraine - 2018 Format & Size: Hardcover - 9.5" x 11.75" Pages: 230 Book Condition: New Description: Stunning album presenting women's embroidered blouses from the Zastavna district of Chernivitsi/Bukovina in southwestern Ukraine. Includes 69 incredible blouses from the 19th and early 20th century shown in full color with additional close-up images of details to show the intricate embroidery and patterns. The bilingual text and captions make this as useful as it is beautiful for those who don't read Ukrainian.
Traditional Clothing of Right-Bank Polissya
$60.00Book Title: Narodnyy Odyah Pravoberezhnoho Polissya | seredyny XIX – seredyny XX stolittya | Istoryko-etnohrafichnyy Atlas | Slovnyk Translation: Traditional Clothing of Right-Bank Polissya | Middle of 19th - middle of 20th C. | Historical and Ethnographic Atlas | Dictionary Author: Lyudmyla Ponomar Language(s): Ukrainian Published: Kiev, Ukraine - 2015 Format & Size: Hardcover - 9.75" x 11.75" Pages: 268 Book Condition: Good Condition - new book with small bumps/damage to corners from shipping Description: Highly detailed work on the traditional folk costumes of west Polissya region in western Ukraine. Scholarly text about the different garments and local variations plus 65 maps documenting usage and linguistic name variations of garments. Additional copies with heavier shipping damage to the cover corners are available for a reduced price. Please send us a message for more information.