26isfam108 10.3205/26isfam108 urn:nbn:de:0183-26isfam1089 Meeting Abstract Ferček Ferček Jasmina J

Oloop Institute

author Orel Orel Zala Z

Carnica Institute

author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 20260612 engl This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). M0652 108 International Society for Arts and Medicine The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine Presentation Abstracts Berlin 20260618 20260620 26isfam108 TextBackground: Textile communities increasingly function as important spaces of political, cultural, and social change, offering a range of personal, social, and societal benefits. Existing evidence suggests that textile crafting, when pursued as a voluntary leisure activity, can significantly enhance individuals’ quality of life and strengthen communal bonds.Objectives: This research aims to explore how textile communities act as catalysts for personal, social, political, environmental, and cultural transformation. It also seeks to highlight the voices of individuals who use textile work to foster community cohesion and contribute to urban resilience through collaborative practices.Methods: We conducted original qualitative research involving in-depth data collection from experts working within textile communities. The material was systematically analyzed to categorize the individual benefits and broader social impacts associated with collective textile crafting.Results: Our findings demonstrate that textile communities serve as reservoirs of knowledge and active social systems that support care, health, emancipation, and mutual support. Participants described textile community spaces as environments that nurture well-being, cultivate tranquillity, strengthen interpersonal connections, fortify personal and collective identities, and facilitate cultural-social transitions. Additionally, these communities often promote activism and act as drivers of social change.Conclusion: Textile communities hold significant transformative potential. By fostering collaboration, emotional support, cultural continuity, and activism, they contribute meaningfully to individual well-being and societal resilience. Their role as inclusive spaces for social, cultural, and political engagement underscores their importance in contemporary community life. 0 0 0 0