Zenica Artisans: Tailors Working Better Than 30 Years Ago, Yufka Makers Almost Extinct

Cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina used to have hundreds of artisan workshops, which were the lifeblood of the country. Blacksmiths produced tools for work, carpenters household items, tailors and shoemakers clothes and shoes for people... Others produced food, and others made sure their neighbors were shaved and had their hair cut.

With the arrival of the modern era, the age of technology and large corporations, old crafts have almost died out.
Bh. news agency Patria presents the six oldest artisan workshops in Zenica. Some of them operate on the brink of profitability, while others, like the tailoring shop of Almir and Asim Mujagić, have more work than before.

Barbers

The only true barbershop in Zenica is located in the Carina neighborhood, on Maršala Tita street. The shop was founded by Veljko Milošević shortly after World War II. Thirty-three years ago, Rahmija Zukić took over the shop from him, and his children have now continued his work.

- I've been working since 1990, and my sister Elvedina started four years earlier. This is a classic barbershop where men can get a haircut and a shave. Our work is recognized as an old craft – explains Muris Zukić to the Patria agency. He adds that his barbershop is open from 7 AM to 7 PM. A haircut costs 6 KM and a shave costs 4 KM.

- People feel comfortable here, like at home. That's why we have customers from seven to 77 years old, and public figures like actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović, Hazim Begagić, and also the former mayor of Zenica, Omer Filipović, stop by.

Glaziers

The oldest glazier workshop in Zenica is the one where glazier Haris Aličehić works in the Old Bazaar. The workshop where this master learned his trade no longer exists; it was located where the Bosanka department store is now, and it operated from 1965 to 1978. Haris started working in the old part of town in 1989 and has been there ever since.

- Since 2000, there has been less and less work. People now use PVC joinery, which doesn't require many interventions from us. But, I'm not complaining; I hope my son will inherit the workshop – says Aličehić.

Yufka Makers

One of the oldest artisan workshops in Zenica is located on Fakultetska street, and it is a workshop for the production of yufka, kadaif, and cones.

The owner of the workshop, Islam Selami, says that his grandfather, Mislim Selami, worked in the shop first. There is no reliable data on when the shop was opened; after him, his father, Selam Selami, took over the shop, and he took over the shop in 1968.

Islam makes kadaif, yufka, and cones from flour, eggs, and milk. He says there has been less and less work since the war.

- We have the most work during the Bayram holidays. I used to have two employees, but now I work alone – says Islam Selami.

Watchmakers

The oldest watchmaking shop in the center of Zenica is run by Benjamin Gladan; it was opened by his grandfather Muhamed Gladan in 1950. Benjamin says he is one of the few qualified watchmakers, and he has been involved in this interesting profession since elementary school. Benjamin's son, Dženan, also works with him in the shop.

Benjamin says that they used to be able to live solely from servicing watches for the workers of the Ironworks, which employed 25,000 people, and all of them had watches to a greater or lesser extent.

Benjamin's son, Dženan, explains that he enjoys this job.

- The watchmaking profession is interesting because you are constantly learning something new. We attend seminars, we keep up with the times. We have mastered all operations for mechanical and electronic watches, and we do that job well – says Dženan.

Tailors

The tailoring shop of Almir and Asmir Mujagić in the center of Zenica was opened by their father in 1969. The sons explain that their father learned the trade from a tailor for several years before opening his own shop.

- My brother and I are at the service of the bazaar. There is as much work as one wants. Unfortunately, very few young people today want to engage in this business, although there is more of it now than before. Perhaps people are not in a position to buy new things, so they bring them to us to shorten, narrow, and mend – explains Almir.

Shoemakers

One of the most famous shoemakers in Zenica is Salih Pašanbegović Pašan. He has been practicing this craft since 1965. Initially, only part-time, after his shift at the Ironworks, and for the past twenty years, this has been his primary occupation.

- Although I am 67 years old, I work up to 12 hours a day. The most important thing for me is to have a successor, a son who, God willing, will continue my work – says Salih.

In addition to repairing shoes, Salih also makes orthopedic shoes, insoles, and dance shoes. Prices in this shop have not changed since 1993, so the shop's profit has been significantly reduced, but the master is not complaining.
He says that his biggest competition is cheap shoes from China.