NIKI SHALA

Prishtina's Exclusive T-Shirt Souvenir

This unique t-shirt was crafted as a special gift for the Mayor of Prishtina, Mr. Perparim Rama, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, and two close associates of the Mayor. A limited edition of only four shirts was created, not for sale but as a heartfelt souvenir from Helsinki.

The inspiration for this design began as a playful idea during my 2022 visit to Prishtina, Kosovo. What started as a lighthearted joke soon gained unexpected traction. This year, the Mayor of Prishtina, Mr. Perparim Rama, and LDK party leader Lumir Abdixhiku both shared the shirt on their social media profiles, causing it to go viral and capture the public's attention.

The excitement surrounding the design even reached international stars like Dua Lipa and her father, Dukagjin Lipa, founder of the Sunny Hill Festival. Their enthusiasm was a delightful surprise!

The creative concept behind the t-shirt was to feature Dua Lipa in a fun, animation style as a nod to copyright considerations. I wanted to incorporate the three most frequently asked questions from the diaspora during visits to Kosovo:

1. When did you arrive?
2. How long will you stay?
3. Do you like it more here or where you live?

To add a personal touch for potential future buyers, should Dua Lipa decide to offer them for sale, I envisioned including a customizable section on the back of the shirt. This would allow wearers to state their length of stay and humorously answer these common questions in advance, adding a unique and interactive element to the design.