The country's best young designers will present their work at the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA

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Winners of the All-Russian competition for young artisans and designers, "Creativity in the Countryside," will present their work at the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA. The finals of the creative competition took place in Perm, Russia's Youth Capital, on June 11-12 and brought together talented artisans from all over the country. The competition was organised by the Russian Union of Rural Youth with the support of Rosmolodezh as part of the "Rural Youth" programme. The National Centre RUSSIA established a special nomination.

Over 100 applications were received for the all-Russian competition, from which an expert jury selected 36 finalists: 11 clothing designers and 25 artisans aged 18 to 35. Over two days, participants presented their work: designers held a showing of collections inspired by folk traditions, and artisans demonstrated handmade items at a special exposition.

The expert council of the All-Russian competition for young artisans and designers, "Creativity in the Countryside," included Irina Tesleva, Head of the Regional Interaction Department at the National Centre RUSSIA. She emphasised that all winners will have the opportunity to present their work at the National Centre RUSSIA's project — the Department Store.

"The Russia Department Store presents the best goods that embody the traditions and identity of our country's regions. It is in small towns and settlements that ancient crafts and trades are particularly carefully preserved and supported. It is especially valuable when young people living and working in the countryside use the cultural code in their creative work. And the competition has shown that they do this in a modern and creatively vibrant way," noted Irina Tesleva.

In the "Designer" nomination, Maria Medvedeva from the Yaroslavl region won with her womenswear collection "Salt."

In the "Best Artisan" nomination, Polina Sazonova from the Kursk region was named the best. She presented a series of Kozhlya clay whistles titled "It's Good in the Village in Summer."

Works in the special nomination from the National Centre RUSSIA received particular attention:

- the "Soul of the Fields" jewellery collection (Altai Republic);

- the "Solbino Spring" ceramics collection (Yaroslavl region);

- the "Sofia" womenswear collection (Nizhny Novgorod region).

The "Creativity in the Countryside" competition has become an important platform for supporting young talents who preserve and develop traditional crafts. As part of the event, participants also underwent training in the art of self-presentation, which will help them in the future promotion of their work. The best young designers and artisans will also undertake internships with the innovative IT platform "Print-a-Porter."

The organisers emphasise that such initiatives not only contribute to the preservation of cultural legacy, but also create new opportunities for the creative and professional fulfilment of rural youth.