The Maltese team is presently engaged in comprehensive research regarding the evolution of their traditional costume. They are exploring the distinction between the ‘faldetta’ and the ‘ghonnella’ to ascertain if any differences exist between the two.

The Sicilian term ‘faldetta’ initially denoted a countryside skirt and gradually evolved to signify a head covering. It was used interchangeably with the term ‘ghonnella’, which encompassed the head and a substantial portion of the body. Skilled seamstresses made the ghonnella using materials such as silk or cotton fabric, cardboard, whalebones, and extensive stitching. Sewing a single ghonnella was a time-consuming process that demanded many hours of work.