Inherited Skins explores the Bulgarian winter festival Starchevata, a centuries-old tradition held annually in the town of Razlog on the 1st of January.

Masked performers, often men known as Chaushi, move through the streets in handcrafted fur costumes with large bells, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring health, fertility, and good fortune.

Locals of all ages, from children to elders, wear traditional Bulgarian dress called “nosia”, whose layered fabrics and intricate embroidery express identity, belonging, and regional heritage.

Inherited Skins captures the sensory intensity of the festival, its rhythmic movement, and the physical resonance of the bells, while drawing attention to the symbolic weight of the garments.

The work reflects on identity, memory, and the importance of preserving cultural traditions.