Oral history event highlights traditional tailor shops in Nicosia

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Cyprus Oral History Association is hosting an event titled "Every Stitch, a Memory" to document the history of traditional tailors in Nicosia’s old city. Part of the European Heritage Days 2026, the initiative transforms tailor shops along Aischylou Street and surrounding areas into temporary stations for oral history research.

From 10:00 to 12:00, researchers will conduct interviews with craftsmen who have spent decades working with sewing machines, patterns, and fabrics. These sessions, scheduled at 10:00 and 11:00, are open to the public, allowing visitors to observe the recording process, explore the workshops, and inspect traditional tools such as old sewing machines, scissors, and measuring tapes. This project aims to preserve the stories of a profession that was once central to the commercial life of old Nicosia but is now gradually fading.

Organizers emphasize that this is not a traditional guided tour but an immersive opportunity for the public to interact with the tailors and experience the atmosphere of their workshops firsthand. Through this effort, the association seeks to safeguard the collective memory of a disappearing trade and celebrate the cultural heritage of the area.