Golden embroidery reloaded

Reviving forgotten techniques

Biserka explains that she heard about the workshop from her husband who saw the call on social media and drew her attention to the opportunity, knowing her love for handcrafts. She wasn’t sure about applying as the work on golden embroidery is very demanding, as well as being expensive because of the gold thread used on the embroidery. However, she went ahead, driven by the feeling of respect and great love for tradition though the experience taught her that “work on golden embroidery requires what she describes as “lots of patience and very specific and demanding crafting skills”.

The training was organised through the EU-funded “Preservation and development of the traditional Montenegrin craft – gold embroidery” project and included women of different ages and social backgrounds. Older experts at the craft worked as trainers to pass their knowledge on. Alongside the training, the project also included support for communications and creating a marketing plan for promoting golden embroidery, as well as the launch of a publication that details the history and importance of the craft.

“This training was a huge inspiration for me,” says Biserka, and with the skills she’d gained from the project, she decided to start a small business with the aim of presenting and providing access to these beautiful creations to more people. Designs that include golden embroidery are central to most of the products in her business, RB Ethno Fashion Hand Made, including designs of modern items for everyday use such as bags, scarves, or masks.

Apart from her production and sales activities, Biserka has also organised free workshops where she contributes to passing this skill on to other women from her community. “I believe that this tradition should live, so I am interested in as many young people as possible learning this technique,” she says.