Idria lace room
Making bobbin lace has a long tradition in Idrija. It is believed that lace was introduced to this area by the wives of miners and mining experts who came to Idrija from the German Erzgebirge to work in the mercury mine. Snowy white bobbin lace was a real contrast to the difficult, rough work in the darkness of the mine tunnels. The Idrija women and girls furthered their knowledge at the Idrija Lace School, which was established in 1876 and is still open today. The Idrija lace is today geographically protected and, with its trademark I&Idria Lace, it is becoming increasingly recognized in Slovenia and abroad in the field of protocol, business and personal gifts. It can be used individually or as part of different products (napkins, curtains, jewellery, fashion clothes, footwear etc.) and can even be a noticeable and innovative addition to interior design. Idrija is striving to retain this cultural, ethnological and technological pearl, which is why the Idrija Lace Festival takes place every June; this traditional event is intended for all lovers of this wonderful artistic craft.
