Mountain Highlanders’ Folk Art - Hutsul Culture Of Ukraine

Woolen Weaving

The Hutsul Culture of Ukraine Mountain Highlanders, from the Carpathian Mountains, are stewards of traditional folk art, preserving centuries-old techniques while moving their are forward through innovation. Hutsul home-spun wool textiles are legendary for their extensive embroidery work and nyzynka technique. “Nyzynka” is one of the most archaic of traditional Ukrainian stitches executed predominantly on the reverse of the fabric.

According to one artist, “Sheep farming has been an integral part of lifestyle in the mountains. Due to its geographical isolation, Carpathian sheep are considered one of the oldest sheep breeds in the world.” The artists manually spin the thread from the raw wool into a “gushka” (skein), next the fibers are tumbled in a “valylo” using mountain stream water to make them strong, lastly they are sun-dried and woven on a custom loom. Drawing from the wisdom of their ancestors, the artisans of Hutsul continue to spin cotton, weave wool textiles, and embroider using time-honored techniques learned from parents and grandparents.

With war in Ukraine, artists have added blue and yellow to the colors of the wool textiles, symbolizing their commitment to staying in their country, supporting their community, and sharing and passing on to others Ukrainian folk art traditions.