The Project

Dollama.org aims to assist women that were trained to produce “dollama” (a traditional wearing for brides in Kosovo) to establish contacts with potential buyers, thus serving as a platform to promote employment of women. To facilitate this network, the platform contains contact information of all the women trained to apply this craft through the support of the project.

Traditional craftsmanship is perhaps the most tangible manifestation. One such tradition is the handmaking of “dollama”, a traditional wearing for brides in Kosovo. “Dollama”, along with other traditional customs is used in weddings and other ceremonies organized by both citizens of Kosovo and its diaspora. Although intended to be used for a relatively short time, “dollama” is a very specific tradition as it is passed from generation to generation. While some elements and techniques may have slightly changed, the traditions of making and layout of the design has been preserved. Another, important element of this craft is that it is used by all the communities living in Kosovo with each community having unique elements or designs of this traditional garment.

But, same as many other intangible heritage crafts, the tradition of producing “dollama” is at risk due to many factors such as mass production, globalization, etc., especially as the knowledge and skills associated with it were not passed on to future generations and the process is not properly documented. In addition, only a handful of small businesses produce “dollama”. Thus, EC Ma Ndryshe’s continued commitment for the protection and advancement of cultural heritage aiming to contribute to safeguarding this tradition with focus on South Economic Region i.e. the municipalities of Prizren, Dragash/Dragaš, Mamușa/Mamusha/Mamuša, Rahovec/Orahovac, Suhareka/Suva Reka and Malisheva/Mališevo. The project aims to document the tradition and promote it, as well as contribute to reducing unemployment by increasing the chances of trained women for self-employment or engagement in established businesses.

More specifically, the results achieved from this project are: i. contribute to inheriting the craft of handmade production of traditional bridal wearing “dollama” by training 24 women/girls of all communities living in South Economic Region to produce handmade “dollama”; ii. assist 6 women/girls by providing raw materials and tools to individually perform this craft; iii. promote the cultural tourism of South Economic Region to domestic and foreign tourists with focus on traditional bridal wearing through this platform, video documentary, and the fair.

This website was developed with the financial support of the European Union. It’s contents are the sole resposibility of “EC Ma Ndryshe” organisation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the implementing partner United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).

The project implemented by EC Ma Ndryshe “Dollama, a cultural asset of Kosova” is part of financial grant “Cultural Heritage as a Driver for Intercommunity Dialogueand Social Cohesion” project financed by the European Union Service for Foregin Policy Instrument (FPI) and implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).