Crafting Markets

The fragrance of herbs mixes with that of freshly sewn linen and felt, and wafts over Voronezh’s central Nikitinskaya Square. Curious passersby poke their heads in and find a busy craft fair, populated with handmade cloth dolls and house spirits, some stuffed with mint, thyme or oregano. Cheburashka and Baba Yaga stare out at visitors from booths, while wool mittens, gloves, scarves and shawls sprawl across other stall tables, and dresses folk and modern, to say nothing of pinafores, and shirts, hang from still others.

Some 54 Russian companies and designers from 27 regions had descended on this provincial city square to show off some of the best of what is being made by (mostly) small craft producers in the textile, clothing and footwear industries. Sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, this is the sixth annual Russia-wide fair of clothing, footwear, and textiles. It is a traveling affair, and has previously visited St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow, and Yaroslavl.

“This is the first time something like this has taken place in our city,” said Yulia Galkina, a Voronezh city official tasked with business development. “Undoubtedly, it will encourage further trade fair cooperation between Voronezh and the Federal Ministry.”