Intangible Cultural Heritage Days 2025 - Textile arts

The Journées du patrimoine culturel immatériel (JPCI) (Intangible Cultural Heritage Days) celebrate living cultural practices handed down from generation to generation and classified by UNESCO, in connection with Inalco's cultural areas. Through a program of conferences, round-table discussions, documentary screenings and performances, these days aim to introduce the public to the diversity of these cultural practices, the field of study at Inalco. Each year, Inalco organizes the JPCI around a theme, and this third edition focuses on textile arts.

From wednesday 1 to thursday 2 October 2025
11am-8pm (01/10)
11am-8:30pm (02/10)
Inalco - Pôle des langues et civilisations (65 rue des Grands Moulins, 75013 Paris) - Auditorium, gallery, foyer, hall 2
Free entry
On premise

Organizer(s)

SEAC

Type

Event day

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Patchwork de tissus — Patchwork © Image généré par IA‎

Skills related to the textile arts have been granted Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) status by UNESCO for several years now. Traditional silk from Central Asia, loincloth weaving in Côte d'Ivoire and Palestinian embroidery are all classified as ICH, and bear witness to practices that are rooted in societies and eras, and whose legacy continues to be perpetuated in a constantly evolving world.

For its third edition of the Journées du patrimoine culturel immatériel, Inalco is putting the spotlight on the textile arts and their know-how through a series of round tables, evening events and fun workshops where academics and the general public will be able to get to grips with the issues involved in the heritage of the textile arts. Techniques will have an essential place throughout these days, as will the questions of identity that never cease to accompany textile creation.

The choice of this theme is based not only on the richness and cultural diversity of the textile arts, but also on the passion they arouse among Inalco students. So we decided to place them at the heart of this year's event. Among the highlights of the days will be workshops led by student associations, as well as a traditional dress parade with students.

We invite you to draw together the red thread of these two days, where researchers, academic specialists, practitioners and amateurs will share their expertise and know-how, but also their passion for this theme that accompanies us every day in our daily lives.

Program subject to change.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025 PROGRAMME

Auditorium - 2:00 pm - JPCI launch

By Assen Slim, Deputy Vice-President for Research delegated to Open Science, Digital Humanities and Science and Society.

Auditorium - 2:10 pm - 3:45 pm - Round Table

Patrimonialization - Patrimonializing textiles: issues and practices
The intangible cultural heritage status of know-how related to textile arts has necessitated the implementation of one or more processes of patrimonialization, led by heritage institutions but also by the holders of this know-how. This round table explores the issues and practices involved.
Learn more

Auditorium - 4:00-5:30 pm - Round Table

Technique et transmission - Au fil des mains : techniques et transmission textile
Textile arts practices are made up of hundreds of different techniques, inherent to each culture and population. Among them are weaving, dyeing, lacemaking and printing, all skills that tell stories, embody identities and reflect worlds.
Today, the preservation of these living heritages relies on an essential challenge: transmission. Teaching these techniques, sharing them and making them evolve guarantees their vitality, while creating bridges between past and present.
Learn more

Gallery - Foyer - 6:30-8:00 pm

Parade of traditional outfits - Student Associations
The associations Adet, Chinalco and Inalco students present a parade celebrating the diversity of traditional dress, a reflection of the cultures and heritages of the cultural areas studied at Inalco.
Learn more

2nd floor hall - 11am-1pm

Vegetable dyeing workshop
In this workshop, we explore the basics of indigo dyeing and shibori. Through folding, knotting and soaking, everyone creates unique patterns on fabric. The deep blue of the indigo gradually reveals itself on contact with the air, and intensifies with each new immersion of the fabric in the vat. A timeless moment, open to all, to experiment, create, and leave with a hand-dyed piece, entirely personalized.
In partnership with Atelier Lapanomé - Atelier de teinture indigo - Vente de produits artisanaux)
Workshop free and without registration.
Introductory workshop in embroidery and traditional Paiwan glass beads
This workshop will enable you to discover the craft techniques of the Paiwan, Taiwan's indigenous people, through traditional embroidery and the making of colorful glass beads.
Stands for the activities of Inalco associations
Inalco associations Adet, Chaistani, Assila and Chinalco invite you to discover the richness of their cultures through workshops where you can try on traditional costumes representative of their cultural areas, as well as activities around textile arts.

PROGRAM FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025

Auditorium - 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Round table

Textile arts, reflections of identities
This round table proposes a reflection on the role of textile arts in the construction and expression of individual and collective identities. Through intersecting perspectives (historical, aesthetic and anthropological), speakers will explore how textiles participate in cultural and social dynamics, between traditions, know-how and contemporary issues.
Read more.

Auditorium - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - Closing evening

Projection followed by debate - The Golden Thread (India) - Nishtha Jain - 86 min
Immersion in a jute textile factory in India, near Calcutta, with outdated machinery dating back over a century. The film questions the beauty of this timeless place, but also the drastic working conditions endured by the workers, their daily lives, hopes and dreams.
Read more.

Hall du 2 floor - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Bingo des matières - La textilerie
L'association La textilerie offers bingo des matières and bingo de la couture to learn to recognize different fibers and techniques and discuss their environmental impacts. Can you guess what you'll have in your hands?
Stands for the activities of Inalco associations
The Inalco associations Adet, Chaistani, Assila and Chinalco invite you to discover the richness of their cultures through workshops to try on traditional costumes representative of their cultural areas, as well as activities around textile arts.