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Profile/ Pellumb Hysa, the craftsman from Korça who turned birches into bags for Dolce & Gabbana

2024-09-12 21:10:00, Kulturë Rovena Kallco

Profile/ Pellumb Hysa, the craftsman from Korça who turned birches into

The passion, desire and skill to produce wicker baskets from his hands was born with him, sometime around 55 years ago. If most people at the age of 5 are in the first steps of learning to write and read Pigeon Hysa was committed to learning the craft of his father whom he adored so much.

For the 60-year-old from Korçë, weaving baskets is an asset, a precious gift passed down through the generations, from his grandparents and great-grandparents.

In his small and very modest workshop "The best craftsman in the country", (a title that I did not give him but all Albanians in 2016), he showed compassion all the products produced by his hands.

"I smooth it, I caress it, I treat it like a fragile baby," he said as he held a basket in his hands.

Lined up at the entrance to his workshop all the baskets, canisters, chests and benches looked as if they were full of life and stood tall in worship of their master's craftsmanship. While talking about his passion, master Pëllumb Hysa shows that time has not faded his love for his work.

Atop them stood a bench, it was unfinished, it was the bench that his late father had wanted to make, and Hysa had also left it untouched, touched and polished one last time by his father, for then this basket was sacred.

"As soon as I open my eyes I come straight here, I am so connected to it. So much so that sometimes I say to my daughter-in-law (his wife) 'even in the morning I want you to bring me here to the workshop.' I have never thought of leaving this ancient craft, which has been handed down to me through generations."

And as he talks about his inheritance, he remembers his beginnings, when he sat behind his father's back and stared at him intently, until his vision faded and his eyelids closed with tears.

"Father was among the first in Korça to open the Zukthi Ward, 60 years ago. He took four students from high school to teach them this craft.

I was 5 years old at that time and I always went to my father's work. At first, I helped my father with the final work of the basket, and at the age of 10 I was able to create my first basket. it is an experience of almost 55 years and this very experience is the 'spawn' of that beautiful thing."

Since then Pëllumb Hysa, despite the difficulties and obstacles, has never given up his passion. Its products are preferred not only by the domestic market, but also by the foreign one. For him, "Korça is the best," not because he was born and raised there, but according to him, this city appreciates artisanal work, artisans.

"These old, ancient crafts I have modernized and adapted to the times, according to the market's requirements," says Hysa while holding a bag produced by him.

The dream in the drawer for craftsman Hysa is to create his own line of women's handbags with all handmade birch. This dream of his was triggered by his experience in different European countries.

"I worked for Dolce&Gabana for some time, I made women's bags. When I went there they showed me a bag they had made before, taking its example with my shaking hands I started working on the bag lid that would be my own product, made by my own hands, I was happy with the work that I had done it, but when I saw it finished and from the designer I was ashamed to take it in my hand, it was so beautiful. I was amazed by the work that was done abroad, so I really want to bring it here in our country."

Pellumb Hysa speaks full of passion and optimism about her work and the appreciation she receives. But despite the pleasures he has a hostage that he shows with pain, he has managed to teach his trade to his wife who is often willing to help him in securing the raw material and until the realization of the products, but he has not been able to pass on this passion to his two children.

"I have two children, a 17-year-old daughter and a 33-year-old son who lives in Greece, the son is a master and has learned the trade, but he will not practice it, they are used to the lek there, while the daughter has school and does not bother her. I would really like them to love this craft as I have loved it since childhood. I really want them to look up to me when I work the way I looked up to them."

Today, Pëllumb Hysa remains one of the most dedicated masters of working with birch, showing that early passion and dedication are born with man./ CNA