Ilsur Metshin: “Tatar national should become fashionable”

The Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin got acquainted with the work of one of the souvenir companies today. The Mayor visited the “Legends” souvenir shop on Bauman street, 22. The Mayor interested about the situation in the tourism industry and discussed measures that can help in keeping business.

Executive Director of the Kazan souvenir company Vyacheslav Vdovin has been working on the market of folk and artistic crafts and souvenirs for more than 19 years. “My brother Sergei Vdovin traveled a lot to Tatar villages, talked with local residents, saw beautiful hand-made goods. He bought several goods, and we decided to sell them in Kazan,”- Vyacheslav Vdovin told the Mayor. In 19 years, the business has grown to 11 souvenir shops, the largest shop is on Bauman street. It is hard to call this room a shop – in five rooms, thousands of different souvenirs are presented like museum exhibits. Magnets, boxes, spoons, jewelry, paintings, bags – each product is hand- made.

According to Vyacheslav Vdovin, tourists pay most attention to national costume – tubeteyka, ichigi with Tatar ornaments. The Mayor of Kazan noted that Tatar boots have always been popular, but in their manufacture, fashion trends should be taken into consideration. “Today it is important to keep up with the times and create items based on global trends. Tatar national dress should become fashionable”, - Ilsur Metshin said.

Vyacheslav Vdovin told the Mayor that since the beginning of the pandemic, sales fell 70%, and business partly revived in September of this year.

There is also a workshop in the store, where people can take classes in modeling, tanning, bracelet weaving, and wool painting. Handicraftsmen conduct master classes. However, Vyacheslav Vdovin noted, this room is not enough for large master classes.

Ilsur Metshin instructed to select a place for master classes. “Along with the tourist flow of Kazan, the city tourism industry has also grown. You can see it in your shop. Tatarstan has always been famous for its masters and talents – it is passed from grandfather to father, from father to son. Unfortunately, few people practice national crafts. We want children to make something with their hands, to join the creative process”, - Ilsur Metshin said.