My persona in the SCA is Heilwich Gheerts. Her name is pronounced hyl-vik girts. I have been told the 'heil' means 'holy', though I have not yet found a meaning or location to explain the other parts of the name. It was registerable to the middle of the fifteenth century, and found appropriate for a female living in the low countries. During the fifteenth century, these areas were under control and influence from France and Spain, were geographically and stylistically linked to Germany, and had regular trade with the English isles. Heilwich lived in Ghent, which hosted a flourishing trade in woollen cloth. This brought even more contact from countries further afield.
As a part of my involvement in the Moralez-Beaumont household, I have set myself personal challenges to complete a series of clothing from the mid fifteenth century. I hand sew all items, and try to use linen, silk and cotton threads along with natural, time-appropriate materials.
Heilwich usually wears
*smock
*underskirt
*small money purse
*kirtle
*oversleeves
*ovary belt
*purse
*veils
*over gown
*belt
*pilgrim and household affiliation brooches
*woollen weather cloak
*hosen
*poulaines
She could add to that a couple of fine silk or linen partlets and some frilled/goffered/pleat edged veils. And some BIG HATS.
Examples to come in future posts.
