cachemissek

Cachemíšek is a type of traditional Czech folk garment, specifically a women's undershirt worn during the late 18th to early 19th centuries. The name cachemíšek is derived from the Czech word for "chemise," and it was a fundamental component of the modesty dress that Czech women wore under their outer clothing.

Characterized by its loose, flowing design and simplicity, the cachemíšek typically consisted of a sleeveless or short-sleeved shirt made from cotton or linen fabrics, fastened at the neck with a ribbon or lace trim. Unlike the typical Western European corseted garments, the cachemíšek offered an alternative to the restrictive clothing styles that were common during the time.

The cachemíšek was primarily worn as an undergarment by peasant women, particularly in rural areas, as a practical and comfortable solution to the restrictive outer clothing. It was a universal garment that was worn by women of different social classes, its primary function being to provide an added level of modesty and discretely conceal the body.

Because the cachemíšek was a practical, unadorned garment, little attention has been devoted to its design or construction in historical accounts. Nevertheless, examples of cachemíšek have survived through archaeological excavations and museum collections, demonstrating its significance in Czech folk attire and underlining the essential role it played in everyday life for women in the region during the given period.