We didn’t start Balkanish to build a brand, we started it to find nostalgia.

We met at university: two girls from different corners of the Balkans who instantly recognized each other in the small things; the jokes, the food, the family chaos, the unapologetic pride that comes from growing up Balkan. Danica, born in Canada to Serbian parents, spent years searching for modern, meaningful ways to weave her roots into her everyday life. Maria, raised in Romania and moved to Canada at 13, missed the warmth and familiarity of her childhood — the kind that never quite translates abroad.

Over too many late-night coffees, we realized we both lived in the same “in-between”: not fully Canadian, not entirely Balkan either. That tension; the pride and the ache of dual identity — was our shared language. And when we both struggled to find home décor or apparel that reflected that blended identity, the idea for Balkanish was born! A joint spark between two friends longing for the same thing.

Together, we built Balkanish: a celebration of that beautiful mix of old and new, where heritage meets modern life. Every design is hand-drawn, inspired by our shared experiences, and created with translators and locals from all 10 Balkan nations to ensure authenticity and respect.

Today, with more than 1,000 original designs shipped to over 50 countries, Balkanish has become a global home for the diaspora, a place where the accents, symbols, and sayings of our past meet the design sensibilities of our present.

Because for those of us who belong to two worlds, Balkanish isn’t just clothing or décor — it’s home in between homes.