Is the headdress still on?

Yes and no… It is no longer worn by women from traditional society, i.e. women who have worn it all their lives since they were little girls. But that doesn’t mean it’s disappeared! Today, it is the traditional groups that keep this tradition alive, performing at festivals and other cultural events. Each of them has a deep-seated desire to respect the codes and customs, to leave nothing to chance and to make this culture their own, without being backward-looking. A lot of young people are getting involved in these ensembles, and the future is safe!

How is it holding up?

How does a large headdress stay up? It’s an intriguing question! First of all, it has to be starched, i.e. stiffened with starch. It’s a long process, and one that requires a bit of work (ironing was a real profession in the old days). After being thoroughly washed, to make it as white as possible (bordering on blue to make it even brighter), the headdress, which for the moment is as soft as a piece of cloth, is coated with a clever mixture of starch, paraffin and water. It is then iron-dried to give it its shape. This is a long process, as it takes around 45 minutes to dry the headdress, taking care not to burn it!

These are two completely different techniques. Lace has no backing , and is made by interweaving threads (and using a hook in the case of picot lace). Embroidery, on the other hand, is made from a backing. A woollen sheet for a waistcoat, tulle or organdy for a headdress, to which thread is added using a needle. The Bigoudène headdress is therefore embroidered and not made of lace. There was very little lace on Bigouden garments, although some could be found at the beginning of the century on the ruffs of toddlers. On the other hand, picot lace was found in the form of doilies.

Where can I take an embroidery workshop?

At the Abri du marin in Sainte-Marine twice in the summer, with Nadine Chaminand.

How do you put on a Bigouden headdress?

It’s not a simple hat, it’s a more complex exercise! First of all, long hair is essential. The base of the hairstyle is held in place by the hair: a bonnet , or koef blev in Breton, is placed on top of which the hair is finely pulled back and secured with a velvet ribbon and pins. A circular comb is then used to attach the back of the headdress, the dalet , and then the headdress, to which the laces have been pinned. Once attached, still using pins, the laces are fastened to form a knot at the side. Finish the hairstyle by making pretty heart-shaped clips with the front hair. And to help you understand, here’s a link to an instructional video.

Headdress and costume | Destination Pays bigouden, Bretagne – Site officiel de l'office de tourisme

The story The little hat that became a big hat...

©Portrait Reine Des Brodeuses Bérenice Meur |L. Gloaguen

The Bigouden headdress was strangely small in the 19th century, whereas everywhere else it was the opposite. On the scale of Brittany, our headdress was already very surprising at that time. It remained small until the beginning of the 20th century.

Then, it was no longer simply placed on the edge of the forehead, but fixed higher up on the head, on a circular comb, which allowed it to take off.

From around ten centimetres in the 1910s, to around twenty around 1920, it reached over 33-35 cm in the 1940s.

A culture bigoudène

The Bigouden region has said goodbye to the daily wearing of the headdress. If the headdress has grown so much, it’s due to the impetus of the inhabitants and a certain emulation between the young girls, each wanting to stand out a little from the next.

Today, it has been preserved, but not forgotten!

The headdress is the story of the Bigoudène woman. She has been able to adapt it over the years, in line with fashion. This headdress is a symbol, part of the local memory.

It has grown thanks to the young girls of the region, thanks to their daring, their pride and their character. The headdress has become a signature. Far beyond the Bigouden region, it is now, by confusion, the symbol of Brittany.

©Bigoudènes at the embroiderers' festival in Pont-l'Abbé|M. Cléret

©Pont Labbe Festival Des Brodeuses headdress and costume|A.Charlot

©Pont Labbe Embroiderers' Festival|A. Charlot

Where can I see headdresses?

Grand parade of the Festival des brodeuses, second weekend in July
Musée Bigouden, from summer 2026.
Mondays in summer, 6pm, Lesconil harbour, costume parade and dance initiation, free.
Entre terre et mer parade in Penmarc’h in August.
But also at other events.

Consult the calendar of events

FAQ

Is the headdress still on?
Yes and no… It is no longer worn by women from traditional society, i.e. women who have worn it all their lives since they were little girls. But that doesn’t mean it’s disappeared! Today, it is the traditional groups that keep this tradition alive, performing at festivals and other cultural events.
Each of them has a deep-seated desire to respect the codes and customs, to leave nothing to chance and to make this culture their own, without being backward-looking.
A lot of young people are getting involved in these ensembles, and the future is safe!
How is it holding up?
How does a large headdress stay up? It’s an intriguing question!
First of all, it has to be starched, i.e. stiffened with starch. It’s a long process, and one that requires a bit of work (ironing was a real profession in the old days).
After being thoroughly washed, to make it as white as possible (bordering on blue to make it even brighter), the headdress, which for the moment is as soft as a piece of cloth, is coated with a clever mixture of starch, paraffin and water. It is then iron-dried to give it its shape. This is a long process, as it takes around 45 minutes to dry the headdress, taking care not to burn it!
Embroidery or lace?
These are two completely different techniques. Lace has no backing, and is made by interweaving threads (and using a hook in the case of picot lace).
Embroidery, on the other hand, is made from a backing. A woollen sheet for a waistcoat, tulle or organdy for a headdress, to which thread is added using a needle. The Bigoudène headdress is therefore embroidered and not made of lace.
There was very little lace on Bigouden garments, although some could be found at the beginning of the century on the ruffs of toddlers. On the other hand, picot lace was found in the form of doilies.

Where can I take an embroidery workshop?
At the Abri du marin in Sainte-Marine twice in the summer, with Nadine Chaminand.
How do you put on a Bigouden headdress?
It’s not a simple hat, it’s a more complex exercise! First of all, long hair is essential. The base of the hairstyle is held in place by the hair: a bonnet, or koef blev in Breton, is placed on top of which the hair is finely pulled back and secured with a velvet ribbon and pins.
A circular comb is then used to attach the back of the headdress, the dalet, and then the headdress, to which the laces have been pinned. Once attached, still using pins, the laces are fastened to form a knot at the side. Finish the hairstyle by making pretty heart-shaped clips with the front hair.
And to help you understand, here’s a link to an instructional video.

Embroidery has always been my passion. I embroider and create in my workshop. I also offer workshops for those who want to learn this ancient technique.
These workshops take place twice a summer at l’Abri du marin in Sainte-Marine and must be booked in advance.

Nadine Chaminand

The Bigouden costume

From garment to costume

Bigouden clothing was worn to work, to brave storms and to attend local festivals. Even if it’s no longer worn on a daily basis, the tradition is still alive and well. Between museums and bagadoù, circles and workshops, here, the costume is exhibited, preserved, reworked, sometimes diverted, but also celebrated.

Take a tour of this region to get a better idea of the subtleties and richness of Bigouden embroidery.

©Festival of embroiderers in Pont-l'Abbé|E. Cléret

Embroiderers, a guild

Before it was ornamental, embroidery was first and foremost functional on clothing. It was used to attach a silk or velvet ribbon or to cover a seam. Little by little, embroidery began to spread and was inspired by fashionable French motifs. Embroidery on peasant clothes remained highly codified.

The clothes were made from black or blue woollen cloth, lined with linen for the breastplates. They were embroidered by men, as very thick fabrics had to be pierced and a certain amount of strength was required to prick and push the needle.

The“tennerien neud”embroiderers (thread pullers in Breton) were invited by the families to stay with them for a communion or a wedding, while the waistcoat was being made. They usually worked alone on the floor, cross-legged, bent over their work on which they placed motifs according to the social rank, community and heritage of their client.

Bigouden embroiderers long formed a powerful and original guild. At the end of the 19th century, they were numerous in the Pont-l’Abbé region. They were aware of new trends in Parisian fashion, and it was through them that embroidery designs in a variety of styles appeared.