Soviet-era craft cooperative Uku was designed to produce trendy tourist goods

Curator Ülle Jäe revealed that the folk art production cooperative Uku, founded in 1966 on Moscow's orders, served as an important source of income for many who could not work full-time. A new exhibition showcases the cooperative's once-trendy tourist-oriented products.

The Estonian folk art production cooperative Uku, established in 1966 on orders from Moscow, was primarily created to manufacture fashionable goods for tourists, according to curator Ülle Jäe, who discussed the cooperative's history on the television programme Ringvaade.

Jäe explained that Uku played a significant social role beyond simply producing crafts — it became an important source of livelihood for many people who were unable to hold conventional full-time jobs during the Soviet era. The cooperative offered flexible work arrangements that allowed artisans to contribute on their own terms.

A comprehensive retrospective exhibition is now open, featuring a wide selection of the trendy tourist products that Uku produced during its heyday. The display gives visitors a glimpse into the aesthetic sensibilities and commercial strategies of Soviet-era Estonian craft production, blending traditional folk art with the demands of the tourist market.