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She wouldn't let me take a photo of her. Just of the clothes. She's a collector, a shopkeeper, a seamstress and completely alone in this business. The authorities had her move all her items into a room, only a bit larger than a regular closet.
Hundreds of old traditional clothes, flooding the store: she remembers them all, each of their stories, she even alters and repairs them herself, before selling or renting them. They all have different ages, different stories, different styles and come from different parts of the country. But one thing they have in common is that each of them is handmade, in its most original sense. But how can one evaluate both the sweat and the love put in each embroidery? Works of art like these were given from mother to daughter for generations. They were worn, in villages, either while doing daily tasks or at Church on Sundays...who knows, some might have even gotten married in them, or have held their babies for the first time dressed in them.
Her clients? Stars from the Romanian folklore and opera scene, but, most of all, fascinated foreigners.
She understands it clearly: too few of her clients will shine these works of art in spectacular performances, cradle babies in their embroideries, swirl them in rhythmic traditional Romanian dances. Today's sense of fashion recycles and gives new meanings.
And she is quite content with that. Passionate, ambitious and tireless, she's still waiting for you to open the door, just around a corner in Bucharest, Romania.