Original scientific paper
"HERITAGE" Ltd., WOOL AND NEW TRADITIONS: TEXTILE HANDICRAFTS IN CROATIA TODAY
Tanja Bukovčan Žufika
orcid.org/0000-0003-1970-8044
; Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Univrsity of Zagreb
Abstract
The article gives a brief outline of the two attempts of revitalization
of textile handicrafts in Croatia: Þrst example is the nongovernmental
organization ’Ruta’ from the Island of Cres, which was founded in 2000 and
which is using the wool of the sheep from the island, which would have
otherwise been discarded and burned down, to make felt souvenirs. They
have used the knowledge of the older inhabitants of the Island of Cres, and
the available literature to (re)invent the technique of felt-making, with the
Þnal motif to increase the employment in the town of Cres and to, as is stated
in the name of their organization, improve the quality of life on the island.
The second example is a little company, called ’Baština’ (Heritage)
LLC, from the village of Koprivnički Ivanec, situated on the northern exit
from the town of Koprivnica, in the north-western region of Croatia. They are
focused on making souvenirs featuring a famous (in ethnological writings) red
embroidery found on the traditional costumes of the rural population of the
region, with the intention to preserve it and increase the interest of the local
community for its production. Their main goal is to make the embroidery
items 'as close to original as possible'.
In the conclusion of this article, the author is trying to point to some
common elements of the two case studies and thus create a possible base for
the analysis of the similar organizations and attempts of the revitalization
of textile handicrafts today.
Keywords
revitalization of textile handicrafts; nongovernmental organizations; 'authenticity' in ethnology; tradition and tourism
Hrčak ID:
40875
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2004.
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