Twentieth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Cultural richness is the core of Pakistani history, mapping numerous different narratives of human expression and experience, with many crafts that represent its people, their values, and lifestyle. The roots of traditional crafts in present day Pakistan are traced back to the Indus Valley civilization contributing to its heritage. Some social traditions have survived over the centuries but are now threatened by globalization. The rapid advancement in technology and other factors such as inflation, are forcing these crafts to the brink of extinction. Times have changed and understanding of crafts in its essence is limited. Efforts can and must be sustained in a world changing at a pace that leaves so many with so few resources. Imbalance in the global textile industry at the expense of the weakest in the value chain, is a question of social responsibility. The need for a nuanced understanding of the local discourses around traditional crafts in opposition to digital prints, and the challenges they present for the indigenous textiles of Pakistan, is the larger metaphor to comprehend; to give meaning to the role of cultural heritage in shaping artistic community practices verses the impact of technology on cultural identity and its mechanized expression. My research examines the conflicting views on the importance and existence of traditional craft in contemporary times through cultural, intellectual, and theoretical discourse. It hopes to achieve some success in its objective to preserve age-old methods, conserve built heritages, and promote the development of traditional crafts against mass reproductivity.