Window of folk handicraft
The NTOS souvenir shop on Avala is conceptually unique: nice small things that will remind you of your visit to Avala are exhibited in it, together with the authentic, chosen products representing different regions of Serbia.
We visited this shop at the foot of the Avala Tower and had a conversation with Nataša Drulović – Sales Manager of the National Tourism Organization, who was the Project Leader from the idea to its realization: “By thinking out the souvenir shop’s attractions, we wanted it to be a representative showroom for the best products from Serbia. Souvenir makers were given the task to creatively work out the objects reflecting the authenticity of the regions they come from, meeting high standards of quality and being made of natural materials. I’m proud to see a selection of the most beautiful souvenirs from throughout Serbia here today, where visitors can buy wool rugs, ceramic and glass objects, selected Serbian wines, brandies, nicely wrapped up jars of jams and sweets, T-shirts, magnets, different cute little things.”
Handicrafts of the Ethno-network
Among the unique objects on the shelves, colorful Serbian sashes worn as a belt, which can also be a decorative object in a house, will draw visitors’ attention, too. Rugs with the motifs of the kilims of Pirot and Sjenica, two-string knitted socks from the region of Knjaževac, sophisticated gold-woven towels, hand-knitted gloves, etc. are also exhibited. The majority of the handicrafts are made by the women gathered within the Ethno-Network – a national professional organization, whose members produce traditional handicrafts with the aim of preserving old and forgotten production techniques and professionally training the women for market production. The Ethno-Network’s project is a unique initiative at the level of preserving cultural heritage and it gathers over five hundred women from all parts of Serbia.
Chosen memories
At the shop, hundreds of products that can become your sweet memory are exhibited. From this abundance, we single out the fairytale-like small houses from Vojvodina, villagers, trumpeters and tamburitza players made by Keramika Ras – a family-owned manufacture from Sremski Karlovci. The hand-painted pottery made by Karolina Petrović, with the motifs of the kilim of Pirot, will draw your attention as well. The magnets, cups, bells and vessels made by the Ravno Atelier from Pančevo are very interesting, too. For those who love contemporary design, there is a small niche, in which Dechkotzar T-shirts, with the signature of famous Belgrade designers, are exhibited.
The magic of the kilim of Sjenica
Apart from the widely known kilim of Pirot, at the souvenir shop you can also buy rugs with the motifs of the not so well-known kilim of Sjenica, which has two identical surfaces, so its upper surface can be used for 50 years, and the lower for 50 years more. It is made of fine, thin wool on a vertical weaver’s frame. It is produced extremely slowly, and weavers create the magic of luxuriant roses and imaginative ornaments by combining threads without any sketches or patterns.
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