Culture and Conflict – Crafts Project Report

The Culture & Conflict project is based at Middlesex University (UK) and at Laajverd in Pakistan. The project is part of the GCRF Gender, Justice and Security Hub at London School of Economics and it contributes to the work stream entitled ‘Transformation and Empowerment.’ The crafts report, written by the consultant Nitin Goyal, as a part of this project aims to provide valuable feedback and recommendations on the regional artisanal crafts practised by women in the four selected countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka with an objective to enhance their craft work across the selected regions and provide them a sustainable living. To form this report, the consultant has studied, researched and analysed the online data & additional images provided by the team across different product categories in the four countries. The given data has been used to study, understand and arrive at a selection of craft/ product categories per country. The selection is based on the product origin, pattern, design, making process, product type, quality, finish and end use of the product in relation to its craft techniques. This is then married to its relevance and fitment to the current international demands in textile product categories & markets and its suitability to the end consumers tastes globally. It is to be noted that the report is based primarily on the online data provided. Unfortunately, in-person & virtual workshops and trainings with the crafts women has not been possible as was originally planned, due to the COVID pandemic and required timescales, to inform this report. Whilst digital images can never replace the actual physical pieces of work, especially when it comes to textiles, where ‘touch and feel’ is key to any evaluation, feedback and recommendation, the available online data has been used to write this report. The consultant believes by marrying these age-old craft techniques with new contemporary designs & market tastes will help the crafts women to upskill their craft techniques and create new products that are globally appealing, thus opening international markets to them and help retain its craft roots, along with providing them with a sustainable living. This would hopefully also engage a wider audience and younger people within these communities to carry on with the craft-making techniques for generations to come. The report is divided by four countries and further sub-sections into cluster regions and selected product types.
Goyal (TBC) Culture & Conflict: Crafts Project Report