Explorations about textile artisan practices in the Minho Region

Abstract

Economically boosted by the textile industry, the Minho region, which went through a strong crisis, is currently recovering. From readings and observation of daily life in the Minho Region, the problem of the unemploy- ment of older women was identified, who, before, worked in the textile indus- try, but, after being unemployed, retired in advance, leaving aside all their knowledge of the Minho textile culture and a period of decline in the transmis- sion of these ancestral regional practices began. It is a region very rich in arti- sanal production and intends to investigate and explore the possibilities of de- sign with traditional techniques, allowing the recovery and safeguarding of the knowledge of these former textile professionals, while being able to contribute to innovation and social occupation. The territorial scope of the investigation comprises mainly the cities of Braga, Viana do Castelo and also Vila do Conde due to their geographical proximity and the importance of their textile cultural heritage. This article is part of an investigation into the contribution through surface design and the use of traditional textile craft techniques to social inno- vation and the production of sustainable textile objects. This article presents the result of the mapping of local artisanal techniques in the Minho region.