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English Supporting Sustainable Tourism Development in Central and Northwestern Bosnia
In Bihać, in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sartorial creativity meets sustainability to shape an innovative vision of fashion. This is where Aldijana Mustafić—seamstress, designer, and the driving force behind the "Šnajderica Singerica" atelier—chose to turn her passion into a genuinely circular business model.
A key milestone in her journey was her participation in the Call for Proposals for micro, small, and medium enterprises launched by the Via delle Cascate project, funded by Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by CISP. This support provided a vital boost to her brand, "ZER," reinforcing a core philosophy built on zero-waste and upcycling principles.
ZER breathes new life into pre-loved garments and transforms textile waste into exclusive creations, guided by the belief that "every garment is unique" and irreplaceable. The brand's essence is reflected in its acronym, which weaves traditional Bosnian craftsmanship with environmental responsibility:
Drawing direct inspiration from the region's natural beauty and the core values of Via delle Cascate, Aldijana created the ReFashion collection, entirely dedicated to creative reuse. The collection debuted on the runway at the 6th Sarajevo Modest Fashion Festival, making a powerful statement: fashion can be sophisticated, responsible, and sustainable all at once.
Emblematic of this fusion was the Cascata dress, the collection's standout piece—expertly crafted from eight repurposed shirts to evoke the flowing movement and subtle shades of the Una River. The runway also highlighted a vibrant collaborative network among local artisans: the Riviera Azzurra dress, for instance, was paired with handcrafted espadrilles by Bosnian creative Emina Horozović, showcasing how women-led entrepreneurship can build synergies and generate shared value for the entire community.
As highlighted on the collection's official poster: “Fashion travels along the Via delle Cascate. Inspired by nature. Crafted by hand. Dedicated to sustainability. Via delle Cascate is more than a trail. It is a bridge connecting people, nature, and sustainable development. Through fashion, we tell a story of protecting and celebrating what we love.”
When artisanal creativity meets environmental stewardship, fashion transforms into a cultural and social manifesto. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, bringing together traditional heritage, creative reuse, and circular thinking offers a key to unlocking ethical growth—generating economic value without compromising natural capital.
This vision lies at the heart of CISP’s long-standing work, leveraging sustainable tourism as a strategic engine for impact. It is an integrated approach that connects environmental protection with the creation of stable, dignified employment. Through initiatives like Via delle Cascate, we empower local talent to make eco-innovation a true driver of regional growth—proving that a greener, more conscious future is built step by step, thread by thread.
