Romania’s Embassy in Cyprus will organise an event in Nicosia on Friday, June 12, dedicated to the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, women’s entrepreneurship and the cultural ties between Romania and Cyprus, the National Confederation for Female Entrepreneurship (CONAF) announced.

According to the organisation, the fashion presentation “Threads of Friendship: Celebrating the International Day of the Romanian Blouse, Women’s Entrepreneurship and Cultural Links between Romania and Cyprus” will take place in the evening of June 12 at the Landmark Hotel in Nicosia.

The event is organised by the Romanian Embassy in partnership with the Flori de Ie brand and renowned Cypriot artist Michalis Pantelidis, highlighting the enduring friendship between Romania and Cyprus through the universal language of cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistic expression, the statement said.

The evening will feature an exclusive presentation of authentic Romanian folk costumes from the private Flori de Ie collection founded by CONAF President Cristina Chiriac, as well as the official launch of the Embroidered Dialogues scarf, a unique artistic collaboration between Flori de Ie and Michalis Pantelidis.

Inspired by the rich textile traditions of Romania and Cyprus, the scarf symbolises Romanian-Cypriot friendship, cultural dialogue and the way identity, memory and beauty can be preserved through art.

The fashion show will present 20 traditional Romanian costumes worn by 10 Cypriot and 10 Romanian businesswomen, symbolising women’s important contribution to economic development, cultural dialogue and international cooperation.

Drawing on Romanian traditional motifs and Cypriot artisanal embroidery, the project creates a shared visual narrative celebrating cultural heritage across borders and generations, the organisation noted.

The event is organised with the support of Romania’s Presidential Administration, CONAF and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Threads of Friendship celebrates the deep and lasting ties between Romania and Cyprus, built on shared values, cultural heritage and strong human connections. Beyond our rich cultural dialogue, Romania and Cyprus enjoy solid economic and business relations, supported by dynamic entrepreneurial communities and growing cooperation across numerous fields. The Romanian diaspora in Cyprus plays a particularly important role in strengthening these ties, serving as a genuine bridge between our two countries. Through the beauty of the Romanian blouse, the creativity of contemporary artists and the remarkable contribution of women entrepreneurs, this event demonstrates how culture, business and community can bring nations closer together and strengthen friendship between states,” Romania’s Charge d’Affaires ad interim in Cyprus, Lavinia Ochea, was quoted as saying.

For her part, CONAF President Cristina Chiriac said each traditional costume in the Flori de Ie collection is a living testimony to Romanian identity.

“Romania has one of the richest and most diverse folk costume traditions in Europe, and each ethnographic region – with its solar, floral or geometric motifs – tells a different story about the same Romanian spirit. These costumes are not relics of the past; they are messengers. Our collaboration with the Romanian Embassy in Cyprus and artist Michalis Pantelidis confirmed that there is a language older than words – the language of hand embroidery, symbols and roots – and that this language is understood everywhere in the world. Through Embroidered Dialogues, we show that authentic heritage belongs not only to museums, but also to people, and that cultural entrepreneurship has the power to unite nations,” Chiriac said.

More than 300 representatives of the Cypriot government and parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the business and academic communities, and members of the Romanian and Cypriot diaspora communities are expected to attend.

Flori de Ie, founded by Cristina Chiriac, brings together an extensive collection of authentic Romanian blouses, unique pieces and contemporary creations inspired by Romania’s textile heritage, some more than 150 years old and restored and certified by ethnography experts.