Rabat: The book “Mati¨res   rªver”, dedicated to the textile, clothing, and leather industries in Morocco, was launched on Friday at the UNESCO Office for the Maghreb in Rabat. Designed to showcase the UNESCO program, this richly illustrated documentary work features 70 original photographs that offer a unique immersion into one of the country’s most dynamic sectors, UNESCO noted in a press release.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the project is led by the UNESCO Office for the Maghreb with the support of Alwaleed Philanthropies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, as well as the State Secretariat for Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy. It aims to address contemporary challenges such as sustainability, innovation, and social inclusion.

In an era of rapid transformation marked by digitalization, ecological transition, shifting market expectations, and the rise of fast fashion, “Mati¨res   rªver” illustrates how Moroccan artisans, apprentices, and industrialists are reinventing their practices with agility, expertise, and commitment.

The book highlights a sector that, while deeply rooted in ancestral tradition, is asserting itself as a space for innovation, creativity, and new opportunities.

In the preface, €š¬°ric Falt, UNESCO Regional Director for the Maghreb, as quoted in the press release, emphasizes that this project is aligned with a vision of sustainable development, “where traditional craftsmanship is not a relic of the past, but a promise for the future.”

He also reiterates the program’s core objective: to preserve ancient techniques while adapting them to contemporary demands-quality, traceability, innovation, market access, and fairness-in order to keep Morocco’s centuries-old traditions alive while generating new economic opportunities, particularly for women.

Beautifully illustrated by Franco-Vietnamese photojournalist Mam Duc Hien, the book brings a unique depth to its subject. Through his sensitive and documentary lens, the photographer captured gestures, materials, and faces that embody the vitality of the textile trades-between living heritage and innovation.

His work reveals the subtle links between culture, identity, and transmission, offering readers an immersive visual journey at the crossroads of knowledge and geography.