Bosnia & Austria, Bosna Quilt Werkstatt, Quilting

Bosna quilts are documents of a collaboration between women from different worlds.

Designer Lucia Lienhard-Giesinger and artisans Safira Hoso, Vesna Malokas, Hedija Kazagic, Munira Karo, Sabina Dolo, Sada Srna, Emina Hoso, Mirza Kozo, Sevala Hadzimesic, Mirza Masic and Camila Sudic in Bosnia and I in Austria, make quilts together as the Bosna Quilt Werkstatt. Each quilt is unique, hand quilted, and they are made them in a wide variety of sizes and colors. 

The work on the Bosna Quilts is an important and reliable part of the income for eleven families. But not only that. Safira, the coordinator of the workshop in Bosnia, once said when asked what quilting meant for her: "It is my life and my love."

In 1993, the group began sewing Quilts together in the Galina refugee home in Austria. Bosnia was at war and many refugees found protection in Austria. During the Bosnian war time in the refugee home, working with the colored fabrics was an opportunity for the women to come up with new ideas, and thus also a help in coping with trauma. Quilting was a means of overcoming the difficult situation. Even now during the pandemic, there is something comforting about working on the quilts. Everyone involved is grateful for the collaboration and connection.