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UNESCO Celebrates the Moroccan Caftan: A Symbol of Elegance and Artisan Creativity
Yesterday, a special event took place in the French capital, Paris, to celebrate the Moroccan caftan, following its official inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition honors its artistic expressions, skills, and traditions.
The ceremony was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, attended by the Secretary of State for Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, Lahcen Saidi, Morocco’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Samir Dehar, and UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, among other ambassadors, diplomatic mission representatives, heads of professional chambers for handicrafts, and cultural and institutional figures.
This event coincided with the presentation of a new book titled “Moroccan Crafts: A Heritage Renewed,” which reflects the outcomes of the Moroccan Artistic Treasures Program, offering a comprehensive overview of Moroccan craftsmanship paths, documenting artisans and their skills, and showcasing their ability to adapt to contemporary transformations, thus strengthening the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and enhancing Morocco’s cultural presence on the international stage.
The ceremony included a visit to live demonstrations of traditional Moroccan crafts, featuring zellij (decorative mosaic tile work), brocade weaving, Ben Ourai rugs, the art of embroidering saddles, tent weaving, and Damascene art, embodying the richness and precision of national artisan skills and their deep connection to heritage, while highlighting their innovative and transformative capacities.
On the sidelines of the event, the Secretary of State held meetings with senior UNESCO officials to assess cooperation in preserving and promoting Moroccan cultural heritage and to explore future initiatives, reaffirming the commitment to uphold the scientific and historical legitimacy of Moroccan heritage, especially the authenticity of zellij, and to defend it through all legal and institutional processes.
