Interest in Icelandic National Costumes and Crafts Surges

Interest in Icelandic national costumes and traditional handicrafts is booming, with the Icelandic Home Industries Association reporting a significant increase in demand for courses and items.

“

When there have been difficulties or hardships in society, people seek out their origins and handicrafts, as if looking for solace in the past or in the familiar.

Kristín Vala Breiðfjörð, the association's executive director, observes a pattern where people turn to traditional crafts for comfort during challenging societal periods. "When there have been difficulties or hardships in society, people seek out their origins and handicrafts, as if looking for solace in the past or in the familiar," she explained.

This trend is particularly evident now, amidst global conflicts and rapid technological advancements that can feel unsettling. Breiðfjörð notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-stitch saw a huge rise in popularity. She believes this connection to the past, often evoked by the scent of baked goods and embroidered cushions in grandmothers' homes, provides a sense of familiarity and comfort.

“

Now that there has been much war, unrest, and discord in the world and technology has advanced so much, which can be unsettling, people are seeking their origins again, seeking handicrafts and finding some comfort there.

Breiðfjörð attributes this renewed interest in national crafts and costumes to a deep affection for ancestors, rather than nationalistic pride. "We are seeking our origins through this, not out of nationalism, but out of great love for the people who were here before us," she stated.

“

People might recognize cross-stitch from being at grandma's house as children. There might have been the smell of cookies in the air, and on the sofa were all these beautiful embroidered pillows. There is something so cozy about it, and one can almost feel in one's bones how familiar it is, we know this, it is part of our past.

The association actively participates in Iceland's National Day celebrations on June 17th. Members gather to prepare their traditional attire before joining the festivities on Austurvöllur square, listening to speeches, and later visiting the Árbæjarsafn open-air museum, where those in national costume receive free admission.

“

We are seeking our origins through this, not out of nationalism, but out of great love for the people who were here before us.