The project aimed to preserve, modernise, and transfer the art of hand embroidery by turning it into a sustainable, accessible, and market-relevant skill. Its main objectives were to: – create an educational model that combines embroidery with recycling and circular design; – develop and test training courses and digital learning materials accessible to learners of all backgrounds; – train a first generation of embroidery trainers able to teach both craft and sustainability; – promote creative entrepreneurship through small pilot initiatives in upcycling and handmade production; and – build a European network connecting tradition, innovation, and social inclusion. In doing so, the project contributed to the wider goals of green transition, cultural preservation, and adult education innovation.
The project was created from the desire to bring hand embroidery back into focus as a valuable cultural heritage and to demonstrate its relevance in the modern world. Over time, embroidery has become an almost forgotten craft, even though it carries artistic, historical, and social value. The partners recognised a strong need to preserve this knowledge, to make it accessible through digital tools, and to show that embroidery can once again serve as a source of income and creative empowerment, especially within the circular economy and sustainable fashion sector. The project therefore addressed the dual need to protect cultural craftsmanship and to transform it into a viable skill for today’s labour market.