Craft is often spoken about as heritage, but in many parts of the world it is also a living system which we all partake in, writes Miriam Kimvangu.
In cities and regions where making has never fully disappeared, craft continues to influence how people dress, build, decorate, trade and even travel. These destinations have become recognised as international craft capitals. They are places where skills are deeply embedded in daily life and increasingly reinterpreted by contemporary designers.
Kyoto, Japan: The discipline of refinement
Kyoto/Sorasak/Unsplash
Kyoto is one of the world’s most influential craft centres, shaped by centuries of imperial patronage and cultural ritual. Techniques such as Kyo yaki ceramics, Nishijin textiles, lacquerware and handmade paper developed here with a focus on precision, balance and restraint. Today, Kyoto’s influence can be seen far beyond Japan. Its approach to craftsmanship informs modern minimalism in interiors, fashion and product design. Many global designers reference Japanese principles of simplicity, natural materials and respect for process, all rooted in craft traditions refined in Kyoto.
Local workshops still operate alongside contemporary studios, while museums and craft districts like Higashiyama allow visitors to see how old methods continue to inform modern aesthetics.
Oaxaca, Mexico: Craft as community identity
Oaxaca/Roman Lopez/Unsplash
In Oaxaca, craft is inseparable from community life. The region is known for its textiles, black pottery from San Bartolo Coyotepec, alebrijes wood carvings, and natural dye traditions. Many techniques are passed down through families, with patterns and colours acting as markers of place and identity. Oaxaca’s influence today is visible in the global resurgence of interest in handmade textiles and ethical fashion. Designers around the world draw inspiration from its bold colours, symbolic motifs and slow production methods.
The city has also become a model for craft driven tourism. Markets, cooperatives and workshops invite visitors to engage directly with makers, reinforcing the idea that craft can support local economies without losing authenticity.
Jaipur, India: Pattern, colour and skilled labour
Jaipur/Aditya Siva/Unsplash
Often referred to as the Pink City, Jaipur has long been a centre for block printing, gemstone cutting, blue pottery and jewellery making. The city’s craft traditions developed alongside royal courts and trade routes, resulting in highly decorative styles and exceptional technical skill. Jaipur’s patterns and colour palettes continue to shape global fashion and interior trends. Hand block prints influence everything from high end collections to everyday homeware, while traditional jewellery techniques inform contemporary design across luxury markets.
In recent years, Jaipur has also become central to conversations around fair labour and sustainable production. Craft clusters and social enterprises here demonstrate how heritage skills can be preserved while adapting to modern economic realities.
Florence, Italy: The bridge between craft and luxury
Florence/Jonathan Körner/Unsplash
Florence represents a European model of craft where artisanal skill underpins luxury. Leatherwork, goldsmithing, bookbinding and tailoring have defined the city for generations, supported by guild systems and later by international fashion houses.
Today, Florence’s influence is evident in the global emphasis on quality, provenance and handmade detail in luxury goods. Many international brands continue to rely on Italian artisanship, even as production scales globally. When visiting Florence, you can still see this relationship between past and present in workshops across Oltrarno, where traditional techniques coexist with contemporary design studios.
Fez, Morocco: Geometry and material knowledge
Fez/Carlos Leret/Unsplash
Fez is one of the most significant craft capitals in the Islamic world. Its artisans are renowned for zellige tilework, leather tanning, metalwork and weaving. These crafts are grounded in deep material knowledge and mathematical design systems.
The visual language of Fez has influenced architecture and interiors worldwide. Geometric patterning, earth toned materials and hand finished surfaces now appear in hotels, homes and public spaces far beyond Morocco. Craft in Fez also highlights the importance of apprenticeship. Skills are learned over years, reinforcing the idea that mastery cannot be rushed.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ:
