Armenia has taken a bold step toward building a sustainable and traceable textile future with the successful completion of the first Arm.wool Forum, held from November 17–20, 2025, in Yerevan. The four-day event gathered over 250 participants, including artisans, farmers, weavers, designers, scientists, international experts, students and donors to celebrate Armenian wool and to chart a regenerative path for the country’s textile industry.

At the heart of the forum was the official launch of the Arm.wool trademark and digital platform, a national initiative led by the Homeland Development Initiative Foundation (HDIF). Co-developed in partnership with the “Institute of Future Creations” (TIFC), Arm.wool establishes Armenia’s first integrated and traceable wool value chain, connecting rural women and small producers with international markets through transparency, craftsmanship, and innovation.

Hosted at a very unique venue HayArt Center the forum featured inspiring talks by Timothy Straight (“HDIF”, Armenia), Ani Mkrtchyan ("Arm.wool", Armenia)  Robert Meeder (“TIFC”), Daniel Harris (“London Cloth Company”, UK),  Nairi Khatchadourian (“AHA Collective”, Armenia), Karine Bazeyan ("H. Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts", Armenia). Speakers explored how traditional skills, fair trade principles, and digital tools like blockchain can redefine the global wool industry.

One of the visual highlights of the forum was a site-specific installation by “Samples Atelier”, developed within the overall event concept curated by “Norel Event Agency”. The piece reimagined wool as a spatial experience, using rising woven layers to symbolize the resilience and revival of Armenia’s wool-making tradition. As the textiles intertwined and lifted upward into the shape of a traditional Armenian arch, the installation reflected the harmony between nature, craft, and cultural identity.

The event also included live workshops and exhibitions, where visitors experienced every stage of the wool journey — from spinning and natural dyeing to weaving, felting, and carpet-making. 

Highlights included the presentation of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival carpet and its blockchain-based traceability demonstration.

Arm.wool Forum was supported by the British Council and Hayg Foundation, alongside a network of national and international partners, including PUM Netherlands. 

This forum proved that Armenian wool is not just a material — it’s a story of people, heritage, and circular innovation, said Ani Mkrtchyan, project manager of Arm.wool . “By connecting tradition with modern design and traceability, Arm.wool is positioning Armenia as a new voice in sustainable textiles.”