The development of tourism is reviving the tradition of traditional crafts and artisan work in Gjirokastër, as well as long-forgotten skills over the years.
For 40 years, Desdemona Paskali has practiced the craft of traditional weaving on a wooden loom.

She began learning this craft at a young age and, over the years, has become one of the masters of weaving on the loom.

“Besides being beautiful and challenging work, it is also an art. When you create these beautiful pieces by hand, it gives you personal satisfaction, and the tourists who see them are also very pleased. ‘Bless your hands,’ they all tell me,” says master craftswoman Desdemona Paskali.

At the handicraft center in the characteristic Bazaar, she works on carpets, rugs, and traditional textile weavings with a variety of motifs. These types of works highlight, among other things, the values of our national tradition, attracting foreign tourists as well.

“Tourists have different preferences. They like both the old designs and the modern ones. In addition to the traditional patterns I create, I also design new models. I know the colors and combinations they like, and I adapt my work to the combinations they prefer,” says master craftswoman Desdemona Paskali.

Now, tourists from various countries prefer to take home a souvenir uniquely crafted on a traditional wooden loom as a memory of their trip to Gjirokastër.

“Here, they create very beautiful handcrafted pieces. I was drawn to a tablecloth and bought it to have as a memory when I return to America, from my visit to Albania and Gjirokastër. I think it’s very fine work,” says a young visitor.

Traditional craftsmanship is considered one of the strong points for attracting tourists and increasing the number of visitors to the city of Gjirokastër.