Stitches of Memory: The Embroidery Journey of Andrra n’Beze
In a world where fast fashion dominates, one woman in Ulqin quietly preserves a slower, more meaningful craft: the art of embroidery. At 68 years old, she has transformed a childhood duty into a form of cultural preservation and environmental care, all under the name Andrra n’ Beze.
“Embroidery has been my passion since an early age,” she recalls. “Not only a passion, but also a duty that all girls had at that time — to prepare the bride’s dowry, clothes to be taken to the husband upon marriage. Every piece was handmade, from the loom and with embroidery.”
After retiring, inspiration struck unexpectedly. Watching her daughter-in-law carefully embroider a traditional strajce (cloth bag), she felt drawn back to the thread and needle. That small act sparked the idea of creating embroidered tote bags, or strajca, both as a nod to tradition and a call to reduce plastic waste.
“It was an idea that aimed to promote the art of embroidery, and also served as a call to use more tote bags instead of plastic ones,” she explains.
Her designs blend tradition with modernity: classic motifs inspired by the region’s heritage, alongside custom requests. Shared mostly on social media under the handle Andrra_n’Beze and at local fairs, these bags quickly became not just useful items but meaningful souvenirs.
“There is great interest from guests, especially in those bags embroidered with traditional elements,” she says.
“They can take home a piece of memory from Ulqin.”
The craft carries with it a philosophy of sustainability. “Using embroidered cloth bags instead of synthetic or plastic ones is a conscious act to reduce waste production — waste that is difficult to recycle — and promotes a more sustainable lifestyle.”
But the work faces challenges. As she points out, “A major challenge is the lack of interest among the youth and the absence of education in schools about handcrafting and its benefits.” With fast fashion eroding originality, embroidery risks fading away.
“Today, authenticity and originality in clothing have been lost, and everyone looks the same. In earlier times, you could recognize someone from which region they came from, by the way they dressed.”
Despite the difficulties, she finds personal joy in the process itself. “Embroidery using a frame is a very meditative work and, especially today in this fast-paced technological life, it’s a method of focus, slowing down, and relaxation.”
Looking ahead, her vision is both hopeful and cautious. She believes embroidery can remain sustainable if nurtured with intergenerational support and modern marketing. “Yes, but we need strong support, time, will, desire, and coordination and harmony between generations,” she reflects. Without this, she fears, “these old techniques won’t get the proper attention, and they will disappear — and with that, we lose a piece of our soul as a society.”
Still, she continues to inspire others to pick up the needle. To anyone curious about learning, she offers heartfelt encouragement: “It’s something you won’t regret, and it can become a good, productive, and creative habit.”
Through every stitch, Andrra n’ Beze threads together heritage, creativity, and care for the planet — reminding us that sometimes the smallest, simplest acts, like choosing a cloth bag over plastic, can carry the greatest meaning.