What type of bunad should I choose?
We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the bunads that are worn in an area to which you feel you have a connection. This may be the place where you grew up or where your family comes from. You could also choose a bunad associated with the place where you now live. While it is not forbidden to choose otherwise, you should be aware that people expect you to have some kind of connection to the place in which your bunad originates.
Where I come from, several different bunads are worn. Which one is the most correct?
Some bunads that originate in the same area are based on a wide variety of materials and therefore look different. In addition, bunad makers can differ in the degree to which they adhere to old local customs. The materials used in some bunads are almost identical to those used traditionally, while others may be inspired by objects such as local flora or rose-painted trunks. Which bunad is the right choice for you depends on whether you are looking for one that looks like a folk costume, has been used for a long time or that is most commonly worn. It's a matter of personal choice, there is no single right answer.
Are some bunads officially approved?
No approval scheme exists for bunads. However, you should be aware that the originator of a bunad may hold the intellectual property rights to it, and that making the same one without a licence would be considered as piracy.
When people talk about a bunad being 'approved', they are often referring to a bunad that has been designed by a local bunad committee or in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume, which implies that the bunad was made according to criteria set by that organisation/institution.
Do I have to wear a headdress?
Most bunads are worn with a headdress, and are not considered complete without it. In the past, all married women wore some form of headdress. Unmarried girls often wore a certain type of headdress or wore their hair plaited or tied up. Many bunads today also have their own headdress for girls. Ask your local bunad maker for more information about headdresses.
As a common-law wife, should I wear the headdress meant for married or unmarried women?
There is nothing to stop you wearing the headdress meant for married women if you want to. The same applies to other costume parts meant for married women, which some bunads have.
Can I use silver ornaments that don't belong to my bunad?
In the same way as for clothing, the wearing of silver is also influenced by local traditions. As a general rule, we recommend that you wear the silver ornaments that were designed for the bunad.
What type of socks should I wear?
We recommend knee-length socks or pantyhose made from wool or cotton. Colours differ according to which bunad you wear. You can find out which colour you should wear with your bunad by asking your local Husfliden handicraft shop or your bunad maker.
Should jackets and headwear be worn indoors?
Jackets should be worn indoors, especially in formal settings such as in church. According to tradition, men should remove their headwear indoors while women should not.
What shoes should I wear with my bunad?
We recommend bunad shoes, such as those from Klaveness. Simple black leather shoes or laced shoes or ankle boots can also be worn.
What is the best way of looking after my bunad and blouse?
You will find guidance on how to look after bunads and blouses here.
Are bunads registered?
The Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume conducts fieldwork several times a year, when we register folk costumes and old bunads. These garments are registered in Primus, a digital archive management system, and are gradually made publicly accessible via www.digitaltmuseum.no. When it comes to bunads that are made today, the only overview we have is based on information from bunad makers about what the bunads look like, what materials they are made from, who made them, etc.
How can I become a bunad maker?
A new curriculum for bunad making was introduced under the Knowledge Promotion reform, and the course entitled National Costume (Bunad) Making is based on this curriculum. The course can make up part of the basis for a journeyman's exam. Participants must register as training candidates (praksiskandidat) or as external candidates (privatist) in bunad making. The county municipalities are responsible for vocational education and training in the counties. All enquiries should therefore be directed to them.
By training candidates is meant adults with at least 25% longer practical training period in a recognised trade than stipulated for apprenticeships in that subject, which is usually five years. Practical training must be comprehensive and documented, and must comply with the requirements in the current curriculum for the subject for training at a workplace. Assessments must be made of the individual candidate's background, taking into account the time requirements for practical training, all-round experience and breadth in the subject, as defined in the learning outcomes for the curriculum. An assessment of real competence cannot replace this practical training requirement. After an overall assessment is made, the practical training must cover the core content of the curricula for VG2, VG3/enterprise or training at a workplace in special pathway subjects. The practical training period must be approved by the vocational training office before the practical part of the trade or journeymen's exam may be taken. You must pay an exam fee to the county municipality to take both the theoretical and the practical exam, and you are personally responsible for arranging the exam site and the necessary equipment for the practical part. When and where you must sign up for the theoretical exam for training candidates will vary from county to county. You will need to contact the vocational training office in your county to find out.
The following criteria are used as a basis for assessing your practical training:
• curricula for training at a workplace
• employer references, stating the time and length of practical training/percentage of a full-time equivalent
• direct contact with your employer
• type of practical training in the subject and adjacent subjects
• certificate of competence/certificates from prior education and training
Some students find it difficult to navigate the education system. If you have any questions or encounter difficulties, contact us or Studieforbundet kultur og tradisjon, a non-profit adult education association, and we will do our best to help you on your way to becoming a bunad maker.