The folk material culture of the area features many handmade elements. One folk costume that is particularly worth mentioning is the wonderful costume that includes the distinct Šibenik red hat, worn proudly by the men in the area, and the Šibenik button, also part of the male folk costume. Try as you might, you won’t be able to find a similar costume anywhere, not even in the two neighbouring towns, as individual creativity is particularly evident here.

The Šibenik Hat

The Šibenik hat is the most famous Croatian version of the red hat and one of the symbols of Šibenik.
The earliest depiction of the Šibenik hat dates back to the 13th century and can be found in the Church of Our Lady of Srima. Originally, the hat was red, with a thin black trim and tassels, while today it is known as an orange hat with distinctive black embroidery, the so-called “boule”.
The older version of the red hat is still worn during performances by some folklore groups and choirs on the islands, where it survived the longest.

The Šibenik Button

The Šibenik button (“šibenski botun”, “šibensko puce” or “šibenska toka”) is a beautiful silver filigree decoration that forms part of the male folk costume. In the past, it served a practical purpose – buttoning the male embroidered vest. The button, and especially its filigree technique, is specific to the area of Šibenik. Today the Šibenik button forms part of the costumes worn by a capella choirs called “klapa”, and its motif is also used to make women’s jewellery.