Workshop "A World at the Point of a Needle" –
a contemporary seating area dedicated to the shirt with altità in Ungheni
On April 3, 2026, in the Mixed Hall of the Ungheni Palace of Culture, the workshop "A World at the Point of a Needle" was held, organized within the project "Gates for the Sustainable Integration of Culture from the Middle Prut Valley into European Tourist Routes" (ROMD00219), funded by the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania - Republic of Moldova 2021–2027 Program.
The event brought together 55 participants - cultural specialists, museographers, folk craftsmen, representatives of local public authorities and guests from Romania - in a joint effort to rediscover, valorize and transmit the shirt with the altiță, a common Romanian-Moldovan identity symbol included in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
The activity began with an exhibition of traditional shirts, where both pieces made by the participants and authentic shirts with altită from the dowry box were presented, complemented by elements of folk costume that each tell a story about roots and continuity. The official opening was carried out by Silvia ZAGOREANU, director of the Ungheni Palace of Culture and moderator of the event, who emphasized: "The name of the workshop is an inspired one, because, indeed, stories are sewn into our traditional shirts. We carry the history of our people on our shoulders. We gathered today in an extended seating area, to learn from each other and to pass on this craft."
Mr. Eduard BALAN, Deputy Mayor of Ungheni Municipality emphasized the importance of the project: "This project brings people and communities together around authentic values. We want the Palace of Culture to become a modern, open and attractive space, where tradition is valued and passed on. The partnership with the City Hall of Iași Municipality strengthens this direction and provides a European dimension to our initiatives." The project manager, Liliana TINCU, presented the evolution of the project implementation: "We are in a dynamic stage, in which plans become reality. Rehabilitation works are next, and the vision for the Palace of Culture is taking shape. In parallel, we are developing a consistent cultural program, with 12 activities aimed at bringing heritage closer to the community, both in Ungheni and Iași. This workshop is not just a training activity. It is a bridge between generations, between tradition and the present, between the heritage preserved in museums and the heritage experienced by the people who carry it forward through their hands, through patience, diligence and respect for authenticity."
The workshop program included thematic presentations by specialists in the field, who addressed both the practical and symbolic dimensions of the shirt with a top hat. In her intervention, Ana COLIBĂ emphasized the profound value of this craft: “The shirt with a top hat is more than a product of manual labor – it is a form of personal and collective expression. Each one reflects the identity of the one who sews it, but also the values of the community to which it belongs. Through this process, tradition is not only preserved, but also reinvented with each generation.”
The discussions were complemented by interventions by participants from different localities, who shared authentic experiences and personal stories related to learning and transmitting the art of sewing.
A special moment was the intervention of the guest from Romania, Alina IONEASA, representative of the "Colors and Rhythms" Association from Ciurea, Iași: "The first shirt I sewed remains the most valuable for me. I instinctively chose motifs that define me, and each imperfection tells the story of the beginning. It is proof that tradition does not have to be perfect, but authentic and lived with soul."
The practical part of the workshop took place in an authentic village atmosphere: the participants worked together, under the guidance of craftsmen from Ungheni, Fălești, Strășeni and Bălți, discovering and practicing traditional sewing techniques and making ornamental motifs. The event was complemented by artistic moments supported by the folk ensemble "Vârsta de Aur" from Ungheni, which brought extra emotion and completed the traditional setting.
The workshop "A World at the Point of a Needle" confirms that tradition remains a living element, capable of uniting generations and communities. Beyond decorative techniques and motifs, the shirt with a top continues to be a language of identity and a space for dialogue between the past and the future.
The project "Gates for the sustainable integration of the culture of the Middle Prut Valley into European tourist routes" (ROMD00219) has a total budget of EUR 1,665,183.08, of which:
· for the Ungheni City Hall: EUR 1,319,246.39 (EU grant: EUR 1,187,321.75; local contribution: EUR 131,924.64);
· for the City Hall of Iași: EUR 345,936.69 (EU grant: EUR 311,343.02; local contribution: EUR 34,593.67).
The project implementation is taking place during the period June 2025 – June 2027.
For further information: Liliana TINCU, Project Manager
Tel.: 069230563
E-mail: liliana.tincu@gmail.com.
The Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Republic of Moldova 2021 - 2027 Program is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the states participating in the Program.
