Promotion of the cultural property Zmijanje embroidery safeguards tradition, but also raises awareness of the importance of preserving the overall intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Srpska, said the Women’s Humanitarian Association Duga from Banja Luka.

Since 2013, this association has promoted Zmijanje embroidery, which is on the UNESCO list, at 16 festivals and exhibitions in BiH, the region and Europe, 12 fairs, 10 fashion shows, and more than 25 various courses and workshops.

The association Duga has taken on itself to promote and educate young people about the Zmijanje embroidery, as the greatest intangible cultural treasure, and members of this association succeeded in embroidering the longest traditional towel in the world in Zmijanje embroidery.

– The towel is 31 meters long, made by 43 embroiderers, including 12 girls and boys from the Little School of Zmijanje Embroidery 2021/2022. The towel includes 155 motifs, and its completion time was less than eight hours. The record was achieved in three categories: the longest traditional towel in the world, the largest number of embroiderers working on a towel, and the fastest embroidered towel – 7 hours and 47 minutes – said Duga association.

The project Duga Towel in Zmijanje Embroidery for a World Record produced the documentary film Duga’s Embroidery on a Towel and a photo exhibition, and presentation of the towel, film, exhibition and accompanying content in Serbia is planned already next year.

Duga association reminds that the Little Zmijanje Embroidery School was launched in 2021 and has been successfully completed by 60 students to date.

The project is intended for children aged from eight to fifteen, so that they use their free time during the school holidays in a creative way, and learn the technique of making Zmijanje embroidery and be reminded of cultural heritage and tradition.

– All the works created in the Little School are finalized by Duga members together with the children from the creative team, and this results in a whole collection of useful objects with Zmijanje embroidery ornaments: necklaces, pendants, belts, bookmarks, framed embroidery. All works are on sale during the Kočić’s Assembly event, and all proceeds are intended for humanitarian purposes – said Duga association.

The Women’s Humanitarian Association Duga has existed for 31 years and it is the first non-governmental organization established in the Republic of Srpska that gathers an increasing number of lovers of old crafts and women’s handicrafts.

The association is a member of a network engaged in protecting and promoting cultural and historical heritage throughout Europe and the world.

The Zmijanje embroidery, also known as blue embroidery, which is a specific technique practiced by women in Zmijanje, a village near Banja Luka, is the first element from BiH territory to be entered on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Source: RTRS – SRNA

Photo: RTRS