Craftsman's Day: unpublished book documents stories of laces and embroideries

On March 19, we celebrate the Day of the Artisan – a date chosen to also commemorate Saint Joseph, who in Christian culture is recognized as the patron saint of artisans. Also this month, Artesol – an organization that has been a reference in valuing traditional Brazilian handicrafts for over 25 years – has just launched the unprecedented book “Textiles of Brazil: Laces and Embroideries”, which documents and celebrates the richness of the country's traditional textile techniques, as well as the stories of its master artisans and craftswomen. The work is the result of the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team that traveled more than 10,000 kilometers in three months to research and document the cultural meanings of these artisanal practices. More than a source of income, they represent a cultural heritage and a means of artistic and emotional expression. Thus, the publication is a tool for safeguarding this heritage and an invitation for new generations to connect with laces and embroideries. “Women are the great protagonists here. They are the ones performing artisanal work, household tasks, caring for their children, maintaining the home, and often farming and raising animals, all at the same time. The craft of these mothers and grandmothers not only generates income but also creates a sense of belonging and creative potential, heavily influenced by local resources and nature,” comments the researcher and project organizer, Helena Kussik.

“Textiles of Brazil” will be launched for the price of R$180. The book will be sold in bookstores throughout the country and on the Martins Fontes website as well as on the physical and online platforms of the Artiz project by Artesol.

About the Research

The project, which originated in 2018 within Artesol, led a team made up of researchers Helena Kussik and Bianca Matsusaki, photographer Nathália Abdalla, and illustrator Camila do Rosário to visit 14 municipalities in the Northeast, where they conducted interviews, historical surveys, photographic recordings, and detailed illustrations of textile points and techniques. In total, 340 craftswomen, 17 associations, and 15 collaborators were involved, making “Textiles of Brazil” one of the most comprehensive surveys on the subject ever carried out in the national territory. The illustrated work, edited by Casa Rex, presents nine traditional embroidery and lace techniques, five of which are considered intangible heritage, with detailed descriptions and step-by-step instructions on their main points. They are: Boa Noite Embroidery (intangible heritage of Alagoas, originally from Ilha do Ferro); Redendê Embroidery (native to the Entremontes/AL region); Filé Embroidery (intangible heritage of Alagoas typical of the Marechal Deodoro region); Labyrinth Embroidery (intangible heritage of Paraíba, traditional to the municipality of Ingá); Singeleza Lace (Paripueira/AL); Renascença Lace (original from the Cariri Paraibano, considered intangible heritage of Paraíba); Irish Lace (Brazilian intangible cultural heritage by IPHAN, native to Divina Pastora/SE); and the Bobbin Laces of Trairi (CE) and Cariri (CE). "Laces and embroideries teach us about time; among needles and threads, we find another rhythm where presence becomes essential to express narratives, feelings, and challenges, turning into metaphors of life. These techniques teach us about the connection between hands, heart, and memory. Recognizing this value, Artesol believed in this project as a way to safeguard traditional textile techniques in Brazil, preserving knowledge and valuing such practices to ensure that each thread continues weaving the culture and lives of many generations," affirms the executive director of Artesol, Josiane Masson.