“Skarbonka” rightfully deserves to be considered a centre for the revival of folk culture, its best craft and handicraft traditions. At the same time, the female craftswomen (the collective is exclusively female), having achieved significant heights and successes, do not rest on their laurels, setting new goals and objectives for themselves each time.
“Skarbonka” rightfully deserves to be considered a centre for the revival of folk culture, its best craft and handicraft traditions. At the same time, the female craftswomen (the collective is exclusively female), having achieved significant heights and successes, do not rest on their laurels, setting new goals and objectives for themselves each time.
However, a casual visitor to “Skarbonka” most often does not notice the hard, monotonous work. First and foremost, they enter a magical, and in places mysterious, world of folk material and decorative applied culture, often filled with symbols, amulets, and mystical signs. The young women will explain what a pattern on a towel or shirt means, who should not wear it, and who it will bring good luck to.
When a guest visits us, we want to show them the best we have. And, of course, to introduce them to ancient folk traditions. Where can this be done? Precisely at “Skarbonka”! Guests can look there, and if they like something, they can purchase Lepel towels, belts, shirts, jewellery, and souvenirs.
On the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the craftswomen have exceptionally decorated the shop's interiors. In addition to the traditional Lepel items, "guests" from other cultures have also appeared. According to the Eastern calendar, 2018 is the Year of the Yellow Earth Dog. This is exactly what is available at “Skarbonka” – made from our local Lepel clay.
In the photo: (from left to right) Alena Kameka, Irina Gavrilenko, Natallya Pyatryshchyna, Nina Zvyagintseva – craftswomen of the Lepel House of Crafts “Skarbonka”.
Text and photo by
V. MATYURKA.