The University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, participated in the 10th Varaždin Courtyard Festival, organized by the Varaždin Tourist Board, on June 14 and 15, 2025.

Participating in educational and entertaining workshops was offered to the visitors in the courtyard of the Villa Bedeković. The opportunity to realize the creativity, imagination and desire to gain new knowledge was offered through several workshops:

  • Wool puppet corner in the Varaždin courtyard,
  • Puzzle game – fitting cut parts into clothing,
  • Design your own handbag – Galko d.o.o. and TTF (the best-rated handbag design will be realized in the Galko company and ceremonially awarded to the winner),
  • QUIZ on textiles, leather, clothing and footwear,
  • Workshop on making jewelry and pendants from industrial leather remnants.

The workshop: Wool puppet corner was carried out in a Varaždin courtyard, with the support of the INTERREG DRP0200404 Green-Tex project: Improving the production and consumption of Danube green textiles and clothing, in which the Textile Science and Research Center (TSRC) of the Faculty of Textile Technology is one of the partners. Along with the workshop and playing with dolls made of almost 100% wool, various woollen forms and production techniques were presented and participants were educated in a popular way about the benefits of using wool, not just for making dolls, but also for other environmentally friendly products.

The application of biodegradable and environmentally friendly wool fibers in handmade dolls was presented. The availability of wool, especially for handicrafts, in the world and in Croatia is unquestionable. However, apart from fine wool for clothing, the advantages of the properties of even unclassified wool are generally not well utilized or recognized, both for processing and in the application of wool products. Therefore, within the framework of the Green-Tex project, knowledge about wool was presented and transferred through a performance with wool puppets, to take a step forward in raising ecological awareness and caring for the environment. According to the response and interest shown by the participants, we can conclude the education was successful. (A. Vinčić)