Cultural Sustainability : Influence of Traditional craft on Contemporary craft cross-culturally

Abstract: Among the four dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, social, and cultural), it is the latter aspect that is least examined. However, understanding how culture contributes to the long-term sustainability of communities and societies is one key to a holistic understanding of sustainability itself, and further how it can impact the textile in different cultures. This project is based on understanding cultural influence when practice is moved from one place to another. As traditional artisans struggle with addressing the consequences of economic issues and finding new models of conducting their temporal business, their very existence and preservation contribute to the long-term sustainability of communities and societies as a whole. This project is taken further by following two approaches: first, to understand the values and ideals embedded in traditional textile which contributes to the textile industry and serves as the foundation of long-term survival; second, by acting ‘culturally sustainable,’ to ensure its endurance, thus vouching for safe interests of future generations. The project presents a perspective of a traditional practice moving from India to Sweden as a craft practice instead of a business opportunity to produce functional products. It investigates what happens to an Indian practice when it merges with the aesthetics of Swedish craft and culture. This paper puts light on the fact that eastern crafts are led by western designers and associations for its globalisation into industries. However, it is followed by the negative impact in the form of the exploitation of artisans and the loss of tradition in traditional crafts in this process. Also leading to singularity in craft all over world losing the cultural value. This practice-based research brings the two cultures (Indian and Swedish) and their traditional practices together in one work, presenting the influence of it on each other and presenting my perspective on these cultures being part of both without losing the cultural value and leading to the evolution of traditional practice.