From a tablecloth worth $ US 20,000 US to the common snowflake coaster priced at $US 8, lace making is a treasured skill in Russia’s Vologda region. Its artistic and decorative value has won world-wide recognition.

Traditional arts and crafts play an important role in the everyday lives of people from the Vologda region in Nothern Russia. While wood engraving and enamel painting are popular specialities, the skill of lace-making is arguably the most famous.

The collection at the Vologda city’s museum dates back to the 17th century, when thread was woven from silver and gold to make church icons or goods for the wealthy. Lace was soon a popular trade across the world, but it wasn’t until 100 years ago when the fabric from Vologda gained its distinctive style.

“Our Vologda lace has very sharp drawing lines and we can read all ornaments, scenes from a distance. Then, we have a very transparent background. There are very different drawings many of them seem like snowflakes,” Angelina Glebova, a museum guide, explains.

The snowflake design can be seen in a variety of items, from a bed sheet to women’s clothes and even jewellery.

Today, the making of lace in Vologda is associated with the Snezhinka – or snowflake – firm. It has been operating for 180 years and is the biggest of three lace enterprises in the whole country.

As for the secret to its success, apparently it’s all down to sewing the threads by hand.

All the women working here weave the thread manually using specially crafted bobbins made of different sizes, weights and types of wood, which creates a unique musical sound. Only women work at this firm, spending eight hours each day carefully weaving different patterns from cotton, linen and silk. And they say it can be demanding.

“At any work, if you do it well, certainly you are tired at the end of the day. But the main problem is with our backs. We are sitting all day long,” one of the women says.

Before the weaving process can even begin, a design has to be made.

Nadezhda Veselova followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother by working at the firm. She’s been making lace here for 30 years but now concentrates on creating patterns.

“I like drawing, the process of drawing. I have done it all my life. First it wasn’t with lace but now designing lace is my specialisation. Lace is eternal and always fashionable,” she believes.

They say what makes Vologda lace special is its delicate yet durable quality.

It’s a favourite addition in many households and, also, a hit in the world of fashion.