June 29, 2006 - The ETHNO NETWORK BRAND fashion show, held at Hyatt Regency Hotel was organized in response to the need of the Association for the Preservation of Old Crafts to promote truly high-quality handicrafts made in a traditional way. The ETHNO NETWORK BRAND initiative was supported by the local Tourism Organizations and Tourism Organization of Serbia, Belgrade City Assembly and CRDA implementers - CHF International, ADF, Mercy Corps and IRD.

CHF International helped number of associations to take part in the fashion show and the showroom sale: “Snovatica” from Zaječar, “Miris zavičaja” from Bela Palanka, “Izvor”, “Etno centar” and the local museum from Knjaževac, Group for the Preservation of the Pirot Rug, “Grlica” from Pirot and the Niš-based Women’s Council. The income from the sale of souvenirs and garments reached the sum of over 2000 dollars and the associations had an opportunity to negotiate the terms of sales contracts with the important stakeholders present at this remarkably well-organized event.  
60 different garments made by the members of 24 associations and cooperatives from all over Serbia were featured at the show. They were all hand-made garments made of natural hand-woven and embroidered fabrics. This was the first time that a men’s collection has been shown.

The audience was pleasantly surprised at the entire collection. Their initial reactions showed that they did not know that Serbia had such high-quality hand-made clothes to offer. These positive reactions resulted in a successful showroom sale of the garments on the spot.

This is just one of the ways of attracting the attention of the local and international public to the forgotten crafts, that our mothers and grandmothers mastered and fostered with love. This is also an attempt at motivating young people to learn old crafts and become active in that field in a modern, contemporary way.