Bosnian Immigrants

Bosnia-Herzegovina, commonly called Bosnia, is located in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea. Because of war conflicts, many Bosnians were forced to leave their country and find new homes in the United States. Classified as refugees, Bosnians started immigrating in large numbers in the mid 1990s while their country was in turmoil. Bosnian immigrants settled in the United States because of ethnic conflict, as opposed to economic reasons.

By 1997, Bosnian immigrants were the largest population of refugees in the state of Iowa as reported by Refugee Services. By 2001, more than 10,000 Bosnians were located in Iowa with the largest populations in Des Moines (6,000-7,000); Waterloo (2,000-3,000) and smaller populations in Iowa City and Davenport. Cities such as Des Moines and Waterloo boast Bosnian food stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. The Bosnian Association of Des Moines was created in 1995 by Bosnians in the area.
Bosnian Kilim & Crochet
In Bosnia, textiles are a major industry; textile traditions include crochet, knitting, and flat woven rugs called kilims. Girls learn to crochet lace and doilies from their grandmothers, mothers, and aunts. Crochet lace pieces and doilies are very time consuming and are usually given as gifts to close friends and family as opposed to being sold for profit.

Kilims are well-known, unique, and intriguing flat woven rugs from Bosnia. They are a symbol of Bosnian culture, though it is becoming a lost art. During the country’s conflict in the 1990s, few refugees were able to take the kilim rugs from their homes. Recently however, Americans traveling to Bosnia have been able to purchase these rugs for their homes.

Traditionally, in the home, kilim rugs were used to cover doors and food, as prayer rugs, and on rooftops in the summer to provide shade. They also provided an aesthetically appealing design. Kilims were given to guests, used as a dowry for a young bride, and even provided wealth to families, because they could be traded as currency. Kilim weaving was predominately a woman’s profession and a part of her daily chores.
Enthusiastic Westerners have taken to collecting the bright and colorful rugs for wall hangings, curtains, cushion covers, upholstery, wallets, shoes, suitcases, handbags, hats, belts, and covers for tennis rackets and books.