Blueprinting is intangible cultural heritage
The craft technique of blueprinting has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO Committee.
The centuries-old technique of blueprinting for fabric finishing is still used today by designers and fashion makers in collaboration with blueprint workshops.
Hand blue printing is the dyeing of mostly natural materials using a special printing technique. The wooden models, which are up to 250 years old, are characterised by regionally inspired patterns. While in the 18th and 19th centuries the technique of blueprinting was widespread in Central Europe, today there are only a few blueprinting workshops in Europe.
The craft of using historic blueprints is diverse and timeless. “Hand blueprinting is a special European craft tradition and a cultural heritage,” Richard Vill, President of the European Textile Academy is quoted as saying in a release. “The craft technique of blueprinting is unfortunately increasingly threatened with disappearance, we hope that the international appreciation of this tradition will help to give it new impetus and attention.”
