About us
Kilim Arts & Crafts is a small retail brand with a big heart and an even bigger goal. We want to introduce the whole world to kilim weaving from the town of Pirot and show all handwork lovers this unique craft. The strategic collaboration between Kilim Arts & Krafts and the co-operative Damsko srce, the last workshop of authentic Pirot kilims, has a holistic goal. We want to involve the community through the foundation of a weaving school, thus making manufacturing sustainable and candidating kilim weaving for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. We wish to preserve this noble craft from oblivion and give it a new life. It is necessary, as it is the source of identity and continuity of the community. We at Kilim Arts & Krafts believe that there are no boundaries when it comes to human creativity. By encouraging the further growth of this skill, we are strengthening the ingenuity and openness to a creative state of mind.
History and heritage
On the slopes of the Stara Planina, tucked in the south of Serbia, stands the town of Pirot, the cradle of the ancient craft of kilim weaving.
Pirot has given birth to generations and generations of hard-working women hands – from grandmother, through mother to daughter – kilim weaving was nurtured in the family. As a symbol of family love and harmony, kilim has become an inseparable part of Serbian cultural heritage.
Kilims, which weavers make from the autochtonous pramenka sheep wool, became more than a handicraft. Their splendor, richness of colors and shapes, and two identical faces have made them known worldwide.
Each pattern tells its own story. The unique weaving technique provides longevity, while beauty comes from weavers’ inspiration. Kilim weaving is more than a craft. It is art, skill, dedication, and love.
Manufacturing
The making, weaving, and manufacturing of the Pirot kilim is based on traditional knowledge and established rules that have been passed down from generation to generation.
The kilims are made using the kneeling technique on a vertical loom. The only tools are imagination and ancient patterns, with a dose of patience and love.
The beauty of kilims is complemented by colors procured naturally without chemicals. As they are entirely handmade, our production is limited.
A lot of effort, time, and patience is involved in the making of each kilim.
Upon arrival in your home, you can rest assured that your kilim is a unique piece of protected geographical origin. It is a piece interwoven with the soil, sky, and spirit of people from Pirot and Stara Planina.