Transforming long forgotten wool-based crafts into most dynamic value chains

About the pilot action

The pilot aims to rediscover the cultural and economic potential of wool in the Sibiu area, fostering community cohesion and creative reinterpretation of traditional crafts. It encourages collaboration between artisans, designers and younger generations, preserving ancestral know-how while inspiring new uses of wool in modern design and sustainable tourism.

Titled “Wool – a fibre to build communities,” the Sibiu pilot celebrates the art of wool processing as both cultural expression and sustainable resource. Through ethnographic research in five villages of Mărginimea Sibiului, traditional patterns and techniques are documented and transformed into learning tools. A documentary exhibition at the ASTRA Museum’s Tilișca homestead presents these findings, supported by seven hands-on workshops in spinning, dyeing and weaving.
Artisans, ethnographers, local producers and young creators collaborate to bridge tradition and innovation. Short films, educational materials and a practical booklet ensure that this heritage remains alive and replicable. The pilot blends heritage preservation, skill transmission and tourism activation into one coherent narrative of community resilience.

The pilot delivers a living exhibition, a documented collection of identity weaving models, short videos and practical guides for replication. Beyond tangible results, it builds bridges between artisans, communities and young designers. By reconnecting wool to modern creativity, Sibiu’s pilot transforms local heritage into a vibrant model for sustainable cultural and economic revival.

About the region

Sibiu County lies in the heart of Transylvania, where mountains, shepherding culture and centuries-old crafts form a living heritage. The region of Mărginimea Sibiului, home to picturesque villages like Tilișca, Jina and Rășinari, is renowned for its deep connection to wool: from sheep breeding to weaving and handmade textiles that define local identity. Here, craft is not only a memory, but a way of life. The ASTRA Open-Air Museum in Sibiu hosts the pilot site, where heritage is brought to life through workshops and exhibitions. Combining craftsmanship, storytelling and tourism, the region demonstrates how traditional skills can shape a contemporary, sustainable future: linking people, place and purpose across generations.