Land Code. Craft, Heritage, and Local Practices

The BRICS+ countries have a rich heritage of textile and craft traditions, from African boholan to Indian hand weaving, from Brazilian lace to Russian embroidery. A special place in the Russian cultural code is occupied by traditional folk crafts such as gzhel and Khokhloma, which not only preserve unique artistic techniques, but also influence modern design. Their integration into modern fashion creates new opportunities for the sustainable development of territories, the preservation of the cultural code and the formation of an alternative fashion economy.

In the era of globalization of the fashion industry, local traditions and craft practices are becoming a unique competitive advantage.

During the discussion, the speakers will discuss how cultural heritage, traditional crafts and local production practices can be integrated into modern fashion, creating sustainable and ethical business models, as well as share experiences in preserving and rethinking traditional techniques, discuss the challenges faced by craftsmen and designers working with heritage, and present successful cases of collaborations. between craft communities and modern brands.

• How can traditional techniques (embroidery, weaving, natural dyeing, gzhel, khokhloma, etc.) become the basis for modern collections? What is the value of manual labor in the era of mass production? Examples of successful projects where craft has become a driver for the development of local economies.
• How do digital technologies (3D modeling, blockchain for authentication) help document and popularize crafts? Is it possible to "modernize" traditional techniques without losing authenticity?
• How can we build a fair chain of relationships between designers and artisans?
• Can craft production become an alternative to fast fashion?
• How can we present traditional crafts to an international audience without simplifying them into an "ethnic" style?