September the 22nd, 2024 – Traditional Konavle embroidery (Konavoski vez) has been presented in London by the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board.
As Morski writes, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board recently presented the tourism potential of the extreme south of Croatia in London at the “Connecting Travel Marketplace” business workshop.
In addition to official meetings, the art of making beautiful Konavle embroidery was presented. Getting more personal still, the work of KUD Stjepan Radić from Pridvorje, a small settlement in Konavle’s rural rolling hills, was presented.
The art of making traditional Konavle embroidery has been protected as an intangible cultural asset of the Republic of Croatia since 2015, and it is a symbol of Croatia’s southernmost county, situated just a stone’s throw from the border with Montenegro.
Local Konavle embroidery may look like other types of Slavic embroidery at first glance, but it has its own special stories weaved into the fabric. Konavle’s local population has always remained very close to its roots, separating it quite significantly even from nearby Dubrovnik.
These always symmetrical geometric motifs come in all forms and colours, with the most typical of Konavle being dark green, red, black, and with golden trimming. Konavle embroidery, as well as the equally traditional production of local silk, have been park of this area’s local makeup for countless centuries.
In addition to the Konavle wedding dress synonymous with the region, in the 20th century, local embroidery could be found on a large number of church vestments. It also makes a frequent appearance on items of use, be it as a decoration on clothes or on pieces of furniture. As the years have passed by, these amazing patterns are found not only only in Konavle, but also in Dubrovnik, elsewhere Croatia, and far beyond it.
