Every month, Maria and Danica share the Balkanish pieces they can’t stop loving lately — the ones they’re wearing on repeat, gifting to friends and family, and seeing all over the Balkan diaspora community.

Inspired by the culture they grew up with, the nostalgia of back home, and the kind of humor only Balkans truly understand, these are their favourite picks of the month.

Danica's Picks:

Merak Smiley Face Tumbler

June always feels like the unofficial start of Balkan summer.

Spontaneous plans, beach days, road trips, patios, music playing… that feeling where everything feels a little lighter. That’s exactly what inspired our Merak Smiley Face Tumbler.

“Merak” is one of those words that doesn’t really translate into English — but every Balkan knows the feeling. It’s joy, but deeper than that. It’s being fully present. It’s slowing down enough to enjoy life’s little pleasures. It’s sunshine on your face, your favourite drink in hand, good company around you, and nowhere else you’d rather be.

This tumbler feels like summer in product form. My hope this season is that we all embrace our inner meraklija a little more — slow down, soak it in, laugh louder, stay out later, and really enjoy the little moments.

And preferably… with an iced drink in hand.

Serbian Tajkić Pint Glass

This one feels extra personal to me because it was inspired by my very own Balkan dad.

Growing up, I always called him Tajkić — and honestly… Tajkić he’ll always be.

Like so many Balkan dads, he’s equal parts hilarious, stubborn, hardworking, loud, generous, and could always benefit from a little "pivce za zivce." 

When we designed this pint glass, I kept thinking about those little everyday moments that feel so familiar in every Balkan family — sharing a beer outside in the summer, family over, food on the table, music playing in the background. This one makes me smile because it feels real.

If you’ve got a Tajkić in your life… this makes such a great Father’s Day gift. And I know he'll love it.

Serbia ❤️ Canada Baby Bodysuit

Canada Day is just around the corner and this little onesie felt especially meaningful to include this month.

One of the things I love most about growing up in a country like Canada is the freedom to be fully yourself — to celebrate where you came from and where you are now.

For so many of us in the diaspora, identity has never been one or the other… it’s both.

Serbian and Canadian.
Two homes.
Two cultures.
Two languages.
And so much pride in both.

That’s exactly what this bodysuit represents.

It was made for the little ones growing up between cultures and I’ll actually be gifting this one to my little kumica this year for her very first Canada Day, which makes it feel extra meaningful to me.

Limited Edition Zmajevi Idemo Flag

Out of our entire World Cup-inspired collection, this one feels especially powerful. Every World Cup is special… but this year feels different for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It’s been 12 years since Bosnia last qualified — and the energy around this team right now feels electric. You can feel it everywhere. In conversations with family. In the group chats. On social. Across the diaspora. Everyone is ready.

And the Zmajevi? They’re ready to breathe fire. This flag was made for those moments.

Drape it around your shoulders. Hang it in the garage. Bring it to the match. Wave it from the stands. Throw it over the balcony. However you show your pride… let everyone know exactly who you’re backing this World Cup.

Zmajevi Idemoooooooo!!!!. We’ll be cheering with you every step of the way.

Maria's Picks:

Balkan State of Mind Phone Case

This is actually one of the very first designs we created when we launched Balkanish, and it's still one of my personal favourites.

There's something about it that instantly makes me happy — the colours, the message, the whole feeling behind it. To me, being Balkan isn't just about where you were born or where your family comes from. It's a whole state of mind. It's the way we laugh louder, stay at the table longer, and somehow turn every gathering into a celebration.

Every time I see this design, it reminds me of long Balkan summers, family visits, and the feeling of being surrounded by people you love. It's one of those pieces that always seems to make people smile, and that's exactly why I still love it so much.

Official Sarmale Tester Shirt

Some of my favourite Balkanish designs are the ones that start as a joke and end up being completely true.

The original Official Sarma Maker and Official Sarma Tester Christmas crewnecks became customer favourites, and when we launched our Official Sarma Maker aprons, they quickly became one of our most-loved gifts. So it only felt right to bring the idea back for Father's Day.

Let's be honest — every Balkan family has an Official Sarmale Tester. The person who somehow appears in the kitchen every 20 minutes to "check" if they're ready yet. One taste turns into two, then three, and somehow a whole plate disappears before dinner is even served.

Whether it's for your dad, grandpa, husband, or the self-appointed quality control manager of the family, this shirt is guaranteed to get a laugh and probably earn them a second helping of sarmale too.

Romanian-American Heart Hardcover Notebook

One of my favorite collections we've created is our series of hand-drawn Balkan and North American flag hearts.

They represent something so many of us in the diaspora understand: loving two places at once. Growing up between cultures can sometimes feel complicated, but it can also be incredibly beautiful.

These designs are a reminder that you don't have to choose between where you came from and where you're building your life. You can proudly belong to both.

With the Fourth of July around the corner, I find myself thinking about that even more. We originally launched these designs on baby bodysuits, toddler shirts, stickers, and notebooks, but they'll soon be available on women's apparel as well.

To me, this design celebrates the idea of carrying both homes with you wherever you go — a little piece of Romania and a little piece of America, side by side.

Limited Edition Vatreni Women's Crop Tank Top

I've never been the biggest World Cup fan. It's hard to get emotionally invested when Romania hasn't qualified in what feels like forever.

But this year feels different.

After spending months designing and building our World Cup-inspired collection, I've completely caught the football fever. I've found myself getting excited for the matches, following the teams, and cheering on our Balkan neighbours.

The Vatreni design is especially special because it was hand-drawn by us from start to finish in Procreate. Seeing it come to life and imagining Croatian fans wearing it this summer makes me incredibly proud.

One of the best parts of running Balkanish is creating pieces that help people celebrate where they're from. Knowing that our designs will be worn at watch parties, family gatherings, local festivals, and hopefully a few very loud celebrations makes all the hard work worth it.

I can't wait to see the diaspora wearing these pieces and cheering on their teams all tournament long.

These eight pieces are what Maria and Danica are loving most right now at Balkanish — inspired by the culture, humor, and little moments that make being Balkan feel like home, no matter where you live.

Whether you’re part of the diaspora or simply connected to the culture, we hope these picks make you smile, spark a memory, or feel a little closer to home.

Check back next month for the next Founder’s Edit.