Damir Bajraktarević

Eyewear maker

©Dawood

A warm outlook on life

Damir's wooden eyewear frames are a hit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
His passion for woodwork emerged when he made wooden guitars
He is self-taught

In the beginning, it was a love for music that inspired Damir Bajraktarević to build wooden guitars, but since then he has shifted to making wooden frames for eyewear. This idea and his craftsmanship grew into a successful business that he called Dawood. Fans of Dawood are of all ages, including fashionistas from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. A perfectionist by nature, Damir devotes a lot of time and attention to making each glasses frame. If he is not happy with the piece he has made, he throws it away, even though he knows most people will not notice the small flaws in his charming handmade frame. Damir finds the greatest pleasure in playing with different wood samples. His vision of a frame is blurry until the product is finished, which inspires him to work. "And that is the beauty of wood," says Damir.

Interview

©Dawood

©Dawood

How would you define what you do?: I consider my craft to be about more than making wooden glasses. Since glasses are a fashion accessory and a product for everyday wear, and since wood as a material is naturally warm, I want to say that I am trying to make people more beautiful, happy, and calm.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: The tradition in my products is expressed through the traditional motifs of my country. I usually engrave those motifs on the temples of the glasses. Innovation is expressed in a novel design or experimentation with unconventional materials for making glasses.
Can you tell us about a memorable moment in your professional life?: When I first started selling my glasses, I got to know each customer personally. Later, my glasses were also sold in opticians' shops, and so I started seeing people I had never met wearing my glasses. It was great to hear people say good things about my glasses without knowing I had made them.
What is your advice to young people who want to do what you do?: By trying different approaches and different solutions, you will improve your skills much faster than if you repeat the same methodology. Woodworking requires patience and concentration, so if you are tired or stressed, just take a break, and get back to work when you feel better.

Damir Bajraktarević is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2012