Romanian Artisans 

We all know it’s the little things you discover over time that make you fall in love. Not just with someone. But with somewhere too.  With Romania or with Romanian Artisans.

What makes you fall in love with a place? Like with all great loves, it’s not the flashy things that everyone can see. That’s just attraction. It’s the qualities that are beyond what meets the eye. The unpromoted traits.

Stories about Romania wrapped up in a new campaign #promotetheunpromoted

Throughout the rest of the year we’ll be sharing many stories about Romania, as part of our new campaign. Follow #promotetheunpromoted and you’ll definitely fall in love with Romania. 

One sure way to do that is to try your hand at some craftwork. Traditional crafts can create fantastic memories. From Persian rugs, to African basket, to Mexican pottery, there is a wide array of artisanal crafts that can be found around the world, reflecting a country’s cultural heritage and history. These crafts not only serve functional purposes. They carry cultural significance, preserve traditional techniques, aesthetics, and stories.

Weaving, spinning, carving, embroidering and pottery are still practiced in various regions of Romania. Particularly in rural areas, artisans continue to preserve and pass on their skills and knowledge to younger generations. Or to anyone who wants to take matters into their own hands. So if you’re ready to discover the crafts of techniques of authentic Romanian Artisans, look no further. 

Romanian Artisans 

Below, you can find some of the most gifted Romanian Artisans we’ve met so far. Many of them are happy to teach you a thing or two about their trade, if you happen to visit their workshops. 

Food & drink

• Pater Spirits – A brandy that captures the sprit of Romania

We all know how protective people get with recipes. Pater makes its signature brandy from a recipe passed down from father to son over five generations. We call it brandy, but it’s in fact the most traditional of Romanian drinks: Pălinca. Not only is this a traditional drink born from the love, devotion and work of a Romanian family. But it’s also awarded with Gold Laurels for Product Design and Concept in London.

Its unique design is based on the family story and the concept of nature, tradition and craftsmanship. The tree in the label is a family tree with a trunk shaped like a DNA structure. It contains the initials of the people in the family, those who produce Pater distillates.

• “From the heart of the country” – Jams, Juices and Sauces made in Rupea

“They say whoever offers you food, offers you their heart”, Mr. Avram said before handing us a spoonful of homemade plum ketchup. That’s also how he describes the essence of his jam and sauce business, called “From the heart of the country”. Not only does he cater to the most selective of taste buds, he also uses only the most natural homegrown ingredients. 

Crafts

• Email de Sighișoara – Enamel Dishes

We’re not talking about digital mail here. Email is the Romanian word for enamel. There used to be a big pots and pans factory outside of Sighișoara. After the fall of communism the people there wanted to keep on making dishware. But not in an industrial fashion. The Sighișoara enamel was born as an alternative to industrial production. Because hard metals can actually migrate into the composition of the food you are cooking. Enamel is an odorless, colorless, antibacterial glass, easy to clean and is considered to be one of the safest materials for cooking. 

• Florin Cramariuc – Master Carver

One of the most impressive craftsmen we’ve encountered is Florin Cramariuc. He’s a master carver and wood craftsman, born in the Carpathians. When you see him working he appears to be muttering to himself. He’s saying “a prayer that the craftsman does in front of the wood before cutting it off”.  He doesn’t talk much at the beginning, but once you step into his workshop, there’s no stopping him. 

A great place to discover authentic Romanian creators is iarmaroc.com. Iarmaroc is a place of creators and craftsmen, of unpromoted artisans with a fiery spirit and mind-blowing craft.  

Get in touch if you want to explore any artisanal Romanian workshops, meet Romanian artisans or craft a memento for yourself.