Why We Do What We Do: The Story Behind Our “Balkan Spirit”
We met in our first year of university — two Balkan kids who found each other in a sea of strangers. Within minutes, we were laughing about the same things: our grandmas’ legendary superstitions, the songs that instantly make any Balkan cry-laugh, and that shared sense of pride that never really leaves you, no matter how far from home you go.
One night, during one of our classic late-night hangouts, we wanted to cheers to “Balkan Spirit”, missed completely, and cheersed each other’s head. It became our inside joke, and the phrase “Balkan Spirit” stuck. It became our phrase, our tradition, and eventually, the heart of everything we’ve built. It captured exactly who we were: far from home, but always connected by laughter, love, and culture.
We didn’t know it then, but that moment would plant the first seed of what would eventually become Balkanish.
Built by Balkan Kids for Balkan Families Everywhere
From the very beginning, we knew our rule: if grandma didn’t laugh, it didn’t make the cut. We tested every design on our families, who are never shy about opinions. Slowly, those sketches and jokes became real products — each one carrying that same warmth, chaos, and connection that started it all.
Today, we’ve created over 1,000 original designs and ship worldwide — from Toronto to Sydney, Chicago to Vienna, and everywhere in between. Each item is more than just a design; it’s a little piece of home that travels across oceans.
What Keeps Us Going
We built Balkanish because we wanted to give our community something we’d been missing for years:
A modern, joyful way to rep our heritage, laugh at our shared quirks, and feel closer to home — even if “home” is thousands of miles away.
Every mug, tote, hoodie, and pillowcase carries a piece of that Balkan Spirit — a reminder that home isn’t just a place on a map. It’s laughter in your kitchen. It’s your grandma’s voice in your head. It’s the pride that travels with you, wherever life takes you.
Because at the end of the day, Balkanish isn’t just about products — it’s about connection. It’s that Balkan Spirit we toasted to all those years ago, still alive and traveling the world, one smile at a time.
From Our Balkan Family to Yours
Whether you’re buying a gift for your mom, your niece, or even your dog, know this: everything we make comes from the same place — love, laughter, and that unshakable Balkan Spirit that connects us all.
