Tradiotional textiles
Basic information
Project Title
Tradiotional textiles
Full project title
Cypriot tradiotional textiles made on the loom
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
“When women do better, economies do better.” [Christine Lagarde, Maning Director of the Internation Monetary Fund]
Sustainability, equality for everyone (gender and disabilities) and cypriot tradition revival is our mission!
We are a women-led textile collaboration effort that upcycles raw materials such as shredded blankets created from old saris to make new woven textiles tailored by hand and crafted using local textile traditions and techniques, giving these fabrics new life.
Sustainability, equality for everyone (gender and disabilities) and cypriot tradition revival is our mission!
We are a women-led textile collaboration effort that upcycles raw materials such as shredded blankets created from old saris to make new woven textiles tailored by hand and crafted using local textile traditions and techniques, giving these fabrics new life.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Cyprus
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Our purpose is to create workshops where everyone, regardless of knowledge level, can join and follow the entire process of creating objects (e.g. upcycled textile pieces) with constant curiosity about what comes next. Objectives of the activity and their relation to the specific objectives of the Plan: Objectives of the workshops: What the participants will gain from participating: 1. They respect and protect the cultural and natural environment they are in. (sustainability) 2. Get in touch with folk art and tradition. 3. Cultivate skills related to Cypriot tradition providing quality experience for people, through design. To Express and Discuss the feelings (valuing diversity) caused by the various techniques and crafts of the past. Our target group is socially excluded people who are not only the poor but also drug addicts, homosexuals (depending on the society), carriers of communicable diseases, pregnant minors, single mothers, the homeless, immigrants, refugees, etc. All these cases constitute the various aspects of social exclusion. • Low income criteria. Strengthening young people economically.
Outcomes-The project will help to acquire or improve Key Skills Lifelong Education and specifically: a) With continuous communication, socialization, the exchange of ideas, the development of critical thinking is achieved within a framework of free expression and acceptance of all socioeconomically eligible members of the group b) Entrepreneurial ability with the help of the three members who have knowledge in proper business management d) Civility is acquired through the cultivation of feelings of understanding and tolerance towards all participants inside and outside the project. Through the workshops, we promote active participation in social events (of the artistic community) shaping active citizens. We will achieve this by showcasing examples from historically innovative artists.
Outcomes-The project will help to acquire or improve Key Skills Lifelong Education and specifically: a) With continuous communication, socialization, the exchange of ideas, the development of critical thinking is achieved within a framework of free expression and acceptance of all socioeconomically eligible members of the group b) Entrepreneurial ability with the help of the three members who have knowledge in proper business management d) Civility is acquired through the cultivation of feelings of understanding and tolerance towards all participants inside and outside the project. Through the workshops, we promote active participation in social events (of the artistic community) shaping active citizens. We will achieve this by showcasing examples from historically innovative artists.
Key objectives for sustainability
One of our objectives is sustainability. For us, sustainability means respecting and protecting the cultural and natural environment they are in. (sustainability)
More specifically, an effort will be made to, • The strengthening of the sustainability of Cypriot Organizations, their creative adaptation to modern conditions and the cultivation of their recruitment as a living heritage in constant evolution. How do you achieve this? Through the subject matter that we chose to apply in the Workshops. You also achieve this goal through the selection of the space where the workshops will take place. Make sustainability a way of life. How do you achieve this? • Wooden sustainable furniture, use of recyclable glasses and plates for the food that will be available in the room. Recycling bins. Wooden constructions that will add to the visitor's experience such as the traditional cradle and the construction of the loom. The materials that will be used in the laboratories are the most environmentally friendly. • All artists will engage in arts that have zero impact on the environment. They will use waste for each artwork. Waste such as glass, plastic and textiles.
More specifically, an effort will be made to, • The strengthening of the sustainability of Cypriot Organizations, their creative adaptation to modern conditions and the cultivation of their recruitment as a living heritage in constant evolution. How do you achieve this? Through the subject matter that we chose to apply in the Workshops. You also achieve this goal through the selection of the space where the workshops will take place. Make sustainability a way of life. How do you achieve this? • Wooden sustainable furniture, use of recyclable glasses and plates for the food that will be available in the room. Recycling bins. Wooden constructions that will add to the visitor's experience such as the traditional cradle and the construction of the loom. The materials that will be used in the laboratories are the most environmentally friendly. • All artists will engage in arts that have zero impact on the environment. They will use waste for each artwork. Waste such as glass, plastic and textiles.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Creative rationale: Our rationale behind the workshops is to continuously discover and understand (together with the visitor) folk art and tradition in relation to our emotional world. We experiment with many materials and different techniques, we create individual and group projects, we participate in visual activities, with the aim of enriching expression and cultivating the spirit of teamwork. Creativity is defined as a process of making new and useful forms (Amabile, 1996). During this movement, a series of factors are active which are also translated as indicators of a person's creativity: sensitivity, curiosity, flexibility, insight, originality, and inventiveness. We pay special attention to each person's natural potential, their diversity, and uniqueness, to experience a creative and stimulating experience. Our purpose is to create workshops where everyone, regardless of knowledge level, can join and follow the entire process of creating objects with constant curiosity about what comes next.
Key objectives for inclusion
Social exclusion is a complex and collective phenomenon that reveals the special characteristics of the society in which it exists and the weaknesses of this society (Source: Papadopoulou D., 2004). Socially excluded are not only the poor but also drug addicts, homosexuals (depending on the society), carriers of communicable diseases, pregnant minors, single mothers, the homeless, immigrants, refugees, etc. All these cases constitute the various aspects of social exclusion.
Through our project, we are helping socially excluded people from our community in Pera Chorio to overcome the inequalities they face. From each workshop, we choose to Promote equal opportunities, eliminate any kind of prejudice, and respect diversity by Empowering and giving voice to these people in different environments, allowing them to express their opinions without fear of retaliation. Ensure access to employment and the tools to participate in social life, without any barriers (lack of accessibility is still very present for people with disabilities). We have to believe that social inclusion is possible. If it is seen as an achievable challenge, it is much more likely that all the people involved are motivated and willing to work in the same direction.
It is worth remembering that there are different ways to promote social inclusion, but it’s up to us, as a society, to make sure it’s being complied with. This is also our role.
Through our project, we are helping socially excluded people from our community in Pera Chorio to overcome the inequalities they face. From each workshop, we choose to Promote equal opportunities, eliminate any kind of prejudice, and respect diversity by Empowering and giving voice to these people in different environments, allowing them to express their opinions without fear of retaliation. Ensure access to employment and the tools to participate in social life, without any barriers (lack of accessibility is still very present for people with disabilities). We have to believe that social inclusion is possible. If it is seen as an achievable challenge, it is much more likely that all the people involved are motivated and willing to work in the same direction.
It is worth remembering that there are different ways to promote social inclusion, but it’s up to us, as a society, to make sure it’s being complied with. This is also our role.
How Citizens benefit
Community engagement can lead to improved outcomes for communities. Meaningful, inclusive community engagement is important, even critical, to community well-being. In Cyprus due to our geographical location and division of our country, we face social differences (immigrants, refugees, people who belong to ethnic minority, people with linguistic or cultural integration problems in society) which through the arts cannot be addressed and bring people closer, in a spirit of cooperation. The aim is to reduce as much as possible geographical barriers either by realizing the experiential workshops in remote or rural areas or to provide means of transport for people living in remote areas to be able to attend our workshops. With this project all the aforementioned artists will have the opportunity to watch a series meetings which will help them to develop both in the art they want to follow and in the creation of experiential workshops on the same subject. After the workshops the artists will be able to make their own works of art and promote through the techniques they will learn and also make their experiences happen laboratories. Through the project they will meet a lot of people and because of the physical contact but also because of it publication of their works. The benefit to the community in which it will be developed will be to bring the people of the community closer together since experiential workshops will be held in their community and anyone can participate from wherever and whatever age they are.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
We will take our tradition a step further. By using modern techniques with traditional materials and medium individual looms.
Our innovation comes by bringing back the eco-way our ancestors were living, without plastic.
Our ancestors were using each scrab that was left from their creations to make something else such as pillows etc. Nowadays fast fashion doesn't give us that chance, we can’t even imagine how many fabric scrabs are going to ladfilds each day!
Also, another good example from our ancestors was the longevity of the clothes they were making. The slow way and the love they gave to each piece they were making made it live since today.
So this is how we are going to bring the innovation to our community.
Our innovation comes by bringing back the eco-way our ancestors were living, without plastic.
Our ancestors were using each scrab that was left from their creations to make something else such as pillows etc. Nowadays fast fashion doesn't give us that chance, we can’t even imagine how many fabric scrabs are going to ladfilds each day!
Also, another good example from our ancestors was the longevity of the clothes they were making. The slow way and the love they gave to each piece they were making made it live since today.
So this is how we are going to bring the innovation to our community.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Our project draws on the disciplines of visual arts, fashion design, art history, and psychology.
Visual arts and fashion design improves every humans emotional intelligence.
Art essentially functions most of the time as a form of social consciousness, thus facilitating the understanding of the wider social reality.
Art can contribute to the personal development of individuals in a variety of ways, i.e. shaping their mindsets, thinking processes and abilities and generally making them able to deal more efficiently with the world around them.
Observing a work of Art requires many skills, such as visual processing, analytical thinking, key questions, hypothesis testing, verbal argumentation, etc.
Visual arts and fashion design improves every humans emotional intelligence.
Art essentially functions most of the time as a form of social consciousness, thus facilitating the understanding of the wider social reality.
Art can contribute to the personal development of individuals in a variety of ways, i.e. shaping their mindsets, thinking processes and abilities and generally making them able to deal more efficiently with the world around them.
Observing a work of Art requires many skills, such as visual processing, analytical thinking, key questions, hypothesis testing, verbal argumentation, etc.
Methodology used
The methodology we will use for our project is firstly to make some pieces to have as an example.
Then we will invite people to join us and make a team and make the team spirit with different games etc.Then we will teach them how to make textiles on the loom and all together we are going to work and make the product.
After 2-3 sessions of textile making, we are going to announce an event where people will be able to come and buy or just see our art pieces.
And the team will work again and produce as many pieces are needed for as long as it’s needed.
Then we will invite people to join us and make a team and make the team spirit with different games etc.Then we will teach them how to make textiles on the loom and all together we are going to work and make the product.
After 2-3 sessions of textile making, we are going to announce an event where people will be able to come and buy or just see our art pieces.
And the team will work again and produce as many pieces are needed for as long as it’s needed.
How stakeholders are engaged
There are no stakeholders yet in the project.
Global challenges
Our project can help in two big global challenges, the climate crisis and women's status.
At first, this project is helps with the climate crisis because no more stuff is going to be produced but we are going to upcycle stuff that we already have and was possible to be thrown away. Everything is going to be upcycled and usefull for everyone. No overconsumption no overproduction! We produce what we need and what we are going to use respectfully to our planet.
Secondly and as important as the first one in women’s status. Women will show that they can help the economy not only better but circular. In the old times only women were dealing with clothing and textiles methods and jobs. So we have to show this and how powerful are women in this world.
Also oyr project id not only empowering women but it respects diversity by Empowering and giving voice to these people in different environments, allowing them to express their opinions without fear of retaliation. Everyone can be interested and ready to deal with the textile and fashion field.
At first, this project is helps with the climate crisis because no more stuff is going to be produced but we are going to upcycle stuff that we already have and was possible to be thrown away. Everything is going to be upcycled and usefull for everyone. No overconsumption no overproduction! We produce what we need and what we are going to use respectfully to our planet.
Secondly and as important as the first one in women’s status. Women will show that they can help the economy not only better but circular. In the old times only women were dealing with clothing and textiles methods and jobs. So we have to show this and how powerful are women in this world.
Also oyr project id not only empowering women but it respects diversity by Empowering and giving voice to these people in different environments, allowing them to express their opinions without fear of retaliation. Everyone can be interested and ready to deal with the textile and fashion field.
Learning transferred to other parties
The whole project can be transferred anywhere because all our stuff is portable.
Our stuff is the medium individual looms that will be ready to use, and the fabrics that we are going to cut and wove on the loom.
For example, it can be transferred in schools to teach students or in community centers and care homes to teach elderly people and help them deal with dementia and other health issues.
Our project can also travel abroad for exchange programs since it has to do with Cypriot tradition and a lot of exchange programs are happening for worldwide traditions. It will be a very nice opportunity for us to show other people what our ancestors were doing not only for living but for their houses and their outfits.
Our stuff is the medium individual looms that will be ready to use, and the fabrics that we are going to cut and wove on the loom.
For example, it can be transferred in schools to teach students or in community centers and care homes to teach elderly people and help them deal with dementia and other health issues.
Our project can also travel abroad for exchange programs since it has to do with Cypriot tradition and a lot of exchange programs are happening for worldwide traditions. It will be a very nice opportunity for us to show other people what our ancestors were doing not only for living but for their houses and their outfits.
Keywords
Tradition
Sustainability
Creativity
Inclusion
Equality
