Village Queens. Trachtenfrauen. German women in their traditional peasant garbs

In former times traditional peasant garbs were very common in many parts of Germany. Different kinds of dresses served as clothing for everyday use or for special occasions like marriage, Christian holidays or funerals. In 2008 I have started my photography project about these old women in traditional peasant garbs. They have worn different specific regional country clothing in everyday life, at home or in church. I travelled through different rural regions in Germany and Alsatia to take portraits of the old ladies and to interview them. In a few years this kind of living will completely die out and only women in country folklore clubs will wear these traditional regional garbs like a costume, but not in everyday life.