1. About Us

We are a Webshop with a passion for Romania. Romania is a relatively unknown country for its culture and traditions. The diversity in geography can be compared with France.

For more information about the registration in the Trade Registry and VAT registration, please find out here.

2. Geography

With 19 million inhabitants it is the sixth most populous country in the EU. The size is 240 thousand square km, more or less the same as the UK. The average population density is 80 persons per square km. This compares with Greece, while the Netherlands have 520 persons per square km.
As a consequence, there are still large forests. The Danube, the second largest river in Europe flows in the Black Sea, with the largest delta in the EU and the best-preserved wetland. The Carpathian Mountain range starts in Slovakia and Poland, through Ukraine and then Romania ending at the west side of Romania. The highest peak in Romania is 2544m. In the west in Transylvania the Apuseni Mountains are located with the highest peak at 1849m.

3. History

The actual country Romania that came into existence in the 19th century has a long history starting long before the Romans invaded Dacia. The first and second world war changed its territory to the actual borders with its neighbors. In the product section of the Website, we will elaborate more on the regional history where the artisans live. Also, the Blog section will give you more insights.

4. Culture

Romania has a rich history due to influences since antiquity with the Dacians. The Roman empire took over and created the province Roman Dacia. From the ethnogenesis between the Dacians and Roman colonizers it is believed that the Proto-Romance language, a kind of vulgar Latin came into existence. The actual Romanian language evolved from this language.
After the Romans retreated for the greatest part except near the Danube delta, the Carpi People and Goths took over the region. After the invasion of the Huns and their demise, the Gepids took over, who were overthrown by the Avars and the Bulgars. Slavic groups settled too, but the Bulgars took over the whole region afterwards.
Then the Hungarians took over the western part of actual Romania, Transylvania. Large settlements of Saxons in Transylvania (Siebenburgen in German) came as colonists from the Holy Roman Empire.
After the invasion of the Mongols, the Ottoman Empire took over the whole region. After they were expelled the Habsburgers took over. Transylvania became a part of the Austrian Hungarian Empire while later the other parts of Romania became independent.
This short and incomplete description implies that there is a treasure of different traditions that can be discovered in the handcraft nowadays.

5. Romanian traditional Handcraft

A lot of tradition has been lost due to 50 years of communism. But also, the fleeing of the younger population to the cities is a threat to keep the tradition alive. Older people still know how to make the handcraft, but in order to survive it is important that their products are appreciated and bought. When one can make a living from making this handcraft, even younger people get interested again in keeping the tradition alive.

6. The mission of Frumoro

We want to bring to our customers handmade products from Romania. In order to support the local artisans, we do our utmost best to buy directly from the artist. This guarantees that the product is original, and the proceeds go to this person. We aim to provide a correct price for the work done by the artist.
We want to be a source of information about the culture and history of Romania. This is why we have a blog to give more background on the artist and his region. Where possible we add pictures or movies to the process of making the products.