A Fashion design involvement to uplift the local craft of Dumbara textile weaving

Abstract

An effective craft uplift programme/project has the power of uplifting a whole craft community. In recent years, craft uplift programmes such as, 'design interventions at grassroot level' and 'gamata marketing' (marketing applied to village) caused to change the faces of the crafts and their places in the market. However, unsustainable design interventions due to the negligence of the craft values have directed many crafts to decline. This paper discusses an effective fashion design(FD) involvement taken through fashion as a project to uplift the Sri Lankan indigenous craft of Dumbara textile weaving (DTW). Based on empirical data collected at the craft village, the paper presents the uniqueness and the values of DTW, and then discusses the novelty application of the craft carried out within an experimental framework. On-loom pattern creation during the weaving process is suggested as the most suitable design involvement through fashion. The systematic approach is discussed in order to be able to apply in DTW and gain sustainable advantage.