Samira Salihagić

Saso Mange

Leatherworker

©Tomáš Frkal

Technicolour dreams

Samira is a self-taught leather worker
She started working with leather when she lost her job
She integrates traditional motifs into her modern-looking bags

Samira Salihagić's work is a medley of colours, motifs and shapes. Her pieces incorporate the many things that inspire her on a daily basis. Twenty years ago, Samira suddenly lost her job and – having plenty of time on her hands – began touring craft shops throughout Sarajevo. She was amazed at how master artisans made beautiful items with their hands, she wanted to learn to do the same. At first it was jewellery, but as she mastered the craft she started making bags. Although she still makes jewellery and belts, even leather shoes and dresses, bags are what she always comes back to.

Interview

©Tomáš Frkal

©Tomáš Frkal

What are your sources of inspiration?: Inspiration is everywhere and most of all in myself, in my understanding of beauty and aesthetics. Tradition and nature also inspire me to a lot. I dream in colour.
How do you balance tradition with modernity?: I try to combine the two. I often use motifs from stećak (monumental medieval Bosnian tombstones), carpets, ethnic costumes and I incorporate them into my contemporary bags.
What do you like most about your work?: A sense of freedom at work and contact with wonderful people is something that cannot be found very easily in many other jobs. I love working with natural materials and leather is a great material that offers endless possibilities.
What is little known about your work?: I am quite open and I think my clients know almost everything about my work. But I’d say that I rarely make sketches and drawings of my bags, so I don't know what something I make will look like until the very end. My creations change during the whole making process.

Samira Salihagić is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2004