Dreams of Weaving: Creative Practice-Led Approach to Handloom Product Development in Sri Lanka Using Artisans’ Socio-Emotional Identities

Abstract

Amidst the contemporary global trends of “hyper-localised” and “sustainable” fashion, the craft-based industries have been given substantial importance in recent times. Realising the competence of the Handloom weaving industry in Sri Lanka within the global fashion industry, this research proposes a new product development approach using the socio-emotional identities of the Handloom artisans. The study takes a practice-led approach following an initial data collection through qualitative research where a purposive sample of twenty-seven Handloom artisans from three provinces in Sri Lanka are interviewed and observed to identify their socio-emotional identities. The study subsequently guides the creation of an un-cut handloom textile developed by the artisans to explore the potential portrayal of the socio-emotional identities of a cross-section of Handloom weavers in Sri Lankan in the final product. This practice-led research chiefly contributes to the Handloom textile sector of Sri Lanka as it provides innovative and unforeseen avenues for new product development and contributes to the existing knowledge of craft-based research. The study affirms the need for acknowledging the Handloom artisans in Sri Lanka and adapting artisan-oriented approaches in future product development. These findings are also valuable in new product development for the Handloom weaving industry in the countries sharing the same industry attributes in the South Asian region.