As part of our semester project, we explored the concept of cultural sustainability through hands-on experience. In collaboration with WhyWeCraft®, six students took part in a five-day immersive trip to Romania, where we learned about the country’s rich history, traditional crafts, and the cultural initiatives behind the organization.

The heart of the project was a co-creation process: each student worked closely with craft custodians from WhyWeCraft® to explore a textile product that embodied the principles of cultural sustainability. Each day brought new encounters—with local artisans, hands-on workshops, and discussions grounded in the theoretical foundations we had studied.

This diverse program, curated and led by Monica Boța-Moisin, offered a deep dive into traditional knowledge-sharing practices. For many of us, it reshaped our understanding of what it means to collaborate across cultures, and what respectful, inclusive co-creation can look like.

A heartfelt thank you to Monica Boța-Moisin, our guest lecturer and guide throughout the project, and to the amazing custodians Elena Neagu, Katalin Kovacs, and Virginia Linul for generously sharing their time, knowledge, and traditions with us.

Involved Students: Aerielle Rojas, Hilde Eriksen, Hanie Zadsar, Selda Palaci Alaçam, Jyotika Bhardwaj, Bernadita Solis

Project period: Summer Semester 2024

WhyWeCraft® operates under the Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative® (CIPRI) and supports craft custodians through the 3C Rule: Consent. Credit. Compensation™. This legal and ethical framework has been applied in communities across India, Laos, Guatemala, Romania, and Mexico, and aspires to global recognition. https://whywecraft.eu