Sustaining traditional textile art among the Indigenous Nongtluh women of north-eastern India: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Indigenous textile artisans have, for centuries, maintained traditional methods of textile making that is central to their livelihood and cultural identity. However, the increasing commodification of indigenous textiles around the world has threatened the preservation of traditional, eco-friendly methods of textile production, making it imperative to learn how indigenous groups that have successfully sustained their traditional textile art, have done so. This ethnographic study peers through the lens of indigenous Nongtluh women textile artisans belonging to the Ri-Bhoi district in the state of Meghalaya in the north-eastern region of India, with the aim of understanding how their traditional textile art has been sustained. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of in-depth interview, focus group, field observation and photographic data uncovered two overarching themes that represented internal and external factors that have contributed to the sustenance of the Nongtluh women’s traditional textile art. Internal factors signified the artisans’ deep love for their textile art through inheritance, passion, ingenuity and pride. External factors revealed the role of government, economic prospect and convenience in the sustenance of the traditional textile art in this region. An interpretive framework is presented, representing these factors through the tree of sustenance. Implications and limitations are discussed.