Poneva

(also paneva, poniava, ponia, pon’ka), an ancient Russian article of clothing worn around the waist by married women. It was widespread as recently as the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in southern Great Russia and Byelorussia. The open poneva consists of three panels of woolen or half-woolen cloth, usually homespun, gathered on a cord (a gashnik) and open either in front or on the side. The closed poneva had a fourth additional panel (the proshva or vstavka) of another fabric. All four panels were stitched together for their entire length. The poneva was worn at the waist over the rubakha (shift).