Abstract

Ten years have passed since the 921 earthquake in Taiwan. It was the most devastating disaster in centuries and has destroyed the local craft industry which had been developed for four or five decades. However, it also forced the traditional craft industry to reconsider several issues caused by the crisis of globalization. How do local industries preserve and maintain local characteristics in the face of globalization? How can they find the directions for continual development? How do they integrate and establish a transformation model for the industry? These are the issues faced by the craft industry after resuming after the earthquake. By examining six cases under three types of operation models (family business, cooperative, and factory transformation), this study seeks to explore the current revitalization status of the craft industry in the reconstruction areas in a time of globalization, the transformation of the industry, the benefits brought by government counseling, and the traditional and innovative strategies. The initial investigation draws the following conclusions: 1) after the 921 earthquake, consumers have changed their concepts and tend to obtain cultural recognition through experience activities; 2) the craft industry should create an industry cluster through community building; 3) the government counseling has brought the opportunity for the craft industry to successfully transform; and 4) discovering local cultures is the key for the craft industry to develop sustainably.