Originally written in Spanish.
Between March 15th to 19th, 2023, Creativa Dortmund, one of the largest European crafts and creativity fairs, was held in Dortmund, Germany. This fair turns 40 and is back after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic.
The fair provided countless ideas for creative projects, with trends ranging from Care to Nature, Boho Love, Vintage Flair, and Happy Day. The disciplines on display were incredibly diverse, including painting, jewelry, carpentry, sewing, spinning, weaving, and many more. Moreover, the fair offered advantageous offers for purchasing specific materials and tools for these crafts.
The fair has different areas where you can take courses, try new crafts, and improve techniques. For example, I participated in a Fair Isle workshop, a colorwork technique I used in several past projects. During the workshop, I improved my practice and learned a new way of handling the yarn strands I had not previously known.
Creativa also featured a catwalk area where new creators and universities specializing in textile techniques held parades, providing a significant boost for new ventures and young designers. The event also included various exhibitions and fairs, such as Cake&Bake, PerlenEXpo, Teddies&Bears, and a gardening section, with the garden decoration through flowers and other means.
They do a well-supported charity event yearly because creative people are genuinely generous. In one of its last editions, the fair collected a record of 1,700 wool hats for people without homes. This year, due to the war that is taking place in Ukraine, a group of Ukrainian craftsmen was invited to bring various typical works from their country, gastronomy, and music, which is a way to help them and make their art visible in these difficult times.
In addition to the fair’s various areas and exhibitions, I had the opportunity to visit multiple associations, such as the spinning and knitting associations, which had brought some of their magnificent works full of tradition but also modernity, including new trends in materials, types of work, and tools.
Overall, the Creativa Dortmund craft fair was an incredible experience, providing me with countless new ideas, new yarn, and new needles for future projects. I highly recommend attending the fair to anyone interested in crafts and creativity. The next edition is scheduled for April 20th to 24th, 2024, so mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this fantastic event!
