Nomad Department Launched in Shahrekord

The Director General of Technical and Vocational Training in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari said the specialized Nomad Department of Shahrekord began operations at Technical and Vocational Training Center No. 1 in Shahrekord, coinciding with the second National Nomad Festival.

According to Aria's Heritage Reporter, Seyyed Mohammad Alavi said on Wednesday, October 22, at the ceremony of starting the activities of Shahrekord Felt Department: Naming Shahrekord as the national felt city is a valuable step to preserve the traditions, culture, originality and native capacities of the region.

Director General of Technical and Vocational Education Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari added: Considering the place of felt in the cultural identity and native industries of Shahrekord, it is necessary to pay special attention to this craft and introduce its capacities at the national level.

Alavi pointed to the measures taken to introduce felt in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and clarified: the development of the tourism chain and the production of felt in the neighborhood of Namdmalha and the holding of related exhibitions in the province at the same time as the last two years are among the measures that have helped to introduce this capacity.

He considered the development of the felt industry to require specialized and skilled training and reminded: the creation of this department was put on the agenda in cooperation with the Shahrekord Municipality, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of the province and other relevant executive bodies.

Director General of Technical and Vocational Education Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari added: In this center, trainings are provided on wool washing, natural dyeing, wool weaving, carving, felting, making felt products, and consulting and marketing services are also included in its activity program.

Alavi said: The purpose of starting this department is to revive the native art of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, to combine it with new tools and to produce new products with the approach of creating employment and developing non-woven art.

Commercialization of felt art is essential

The mayor of Shahrekord said: Content development, promotion of scientific knowledge, commercialization and export of felt art are necessary in addition to holding the second Shahrekord National Felt Festival.

Mohammad Hossein Vahidian pointed to the cooperation of the technical and professional organization in providing the space and conditions for the establishment of this department and emphasized: holding such events is necessary for the dynamism and vitality of urban spaces.

He added: Urban management should not be limited to holding festivals, but by planning for the development and introduction of felt art, it should provide the ground for commercialization and the presence of this product in domestic and foreign markets.