The changing role of cultural heritage in traditional textile crafts from Cyprus

In contemporary Cypriot society, the textile craft tradition is under threat of vanishing. This is largely due to both local and global social and cultural changes that have affected women’s roles. The purpose of this article is to examine the changing role of the cultural heritage of traditional textile crafts in Cyprus. The focus is on Cypriot textile crafts, especially lefkaritiko (traditional embroidery) and weaving, as examples of craft traditions and practices that, in turn, allow an insight into cultural heritage. The study investigated the perceptions of cultural heritage of traditional textile crafts and their future, from the viewpoint of four different persons involved with textile crafts in Cyprus. The investigation demonstrates that among the craftspeople of Cyprus there is a tension between maintaining the traditions and developing them: the results indicate that in order for there to be a sustainable future in textile crafts, traditional and modern aspects need to be combined. One problematic aspect is losing the living tradition since it is no longer taught to the younger generation: in order to learn the value of sustaining their own cultural heritage, the Cypriot youth should be educated in their craft traditions. Hand-produced textile crafts face serious problems in the market economy: for sustainable livelihood with crafts, the craftspeople need support in the commercial aspects of production. The results indicate that when careful attention is paid to globalization and tourism, it can have positive effects on local craft traditions.