Daily life in modern Maltese history was mainly dependent on two distinct economic spheres. The Grand Harbour area was centred on maritime activity, which along the centuries was driven by trade, industry, strategic importance and wartime replenishment, thereby generating years of considerable prosperity. Up to the mid-twentieth century the rest of the archipelago remained heavily reliant on agriculture. This dichotomy is also reflected in dress, since like all other forms of art, costumes reflect the society that produces and adopt them.
Traditional Maltese clothes were primarily made from cotton. In fact at the time most of the available land was used to cultivate cotton and around 9,000 workers in Malta and Gozo were qualified as spinners and weavers, while an additional 200 workers were beaters and dyers. Sheep's wool was also produced for the manufacture of clothing though far less than cotton. Sheep's wool was widely used for domestic furnishing particularly blankets and sheets.
The Philatelic Issue features 3 stamps each depicting a typical traditional Maltese folk costume. The 26c stamp depicts the traditional Maltese costume that was commonly worn by the farming community at the time. This consisted of a white shirt, baggy trousers held up by a sash, a waistcoat and a cap.
The 59c stamp shows a similar costume, though with the addition of a 'horga', which was a cloth pouch that was slung over the shoulder.
The 1.16 stamp portrays another element of the traditional Maltese costume, this time including a "kabozza" which was a hooded winter overcoat made from a blend of wool and cotton and not unlike the duffel coat.
