Crafts and popular culture of Paraíba: renda renascença lace

Traditional in the Cariri region of Paraíba, renda renascença lace is one of the craft expressions most valued by the Paraíba Crafts Program.

Among the craft and popular-culture expressions most associated with Paraíba is renda renascença, a hand-made needle lace technique, traditionally practiced by lacemakers from the Cariri region of Paraíba. The activity is supported and promoted by the Paraíba Crafts Program (PAP), linked to the State Secretariat of Tourism and Economic Development, which runs initiatives to add value to and market the craftswomen's production.

Recent academic studies, such as master's theses in regional development, have examined renda renascença as a phenomenon that combines cultural identity, the passing down of knowledge between generations of women and its place in the fashion and tourism markets — a balance researchers describe as caught between preserving tradition and turning it into a commercial product.

In João Pessoa, pieces of renda renascença and other Paraíba craft traditions — such as ceramics, straw work and embroidery — can be found at fairs and at the capital's Mercado de Artesanato, as well as at periodic events such as the Salão do Artesanato Paraibano, which brings together craftspeople from different regions of the state to display and sell their collections.

These expressions are recognized as part of Paraíba's intangible heritage, complementing the built heritage of João Pessoa's Historic Center and reinforcing the state's cultural diversity for those visiting the capital.