Workshop relevance in sustaining Craft Practice: A Case Study on Mashru Weaving of Kutch

  • Unique Paper ID: 198553
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 11
  • PageNo: 10579-10585
  • Abstract:
  • Space plays a crucial role in nurturing creativity. In handloom weaving, ease, quality, and efficiency of work is significantly influenced by the nature of workplace as various pre- and post-preparatory processes are integral to the overall weaving process. However, each process requires specific space setting. Being in that live-work space, artisans are in constant interaction with their space, which unknowingly shapes their thought processes and creative expression. The entire process of weaving involves several hands of experts where the associated pre- and post-loom processes often becomes a vital socializing activity for artisans; fostering a vibrant atmosphere where music, dance, gossip, food and community life can thrive. Handloom weaving typically takes place in a cottage setup, providing a conducive learning environment for the weaver’s children. Through observation and hands-on experience, their children learn the intricacies of weaving and allied processes at an early age These face ts associated with space transforms workshop into a more meaningful, multifunctional dynamic space, making it a living testament to tangible heritage. This study was done to understand the role and need of traditional workshops/spaces for artisans. For this study, two weavers specializing in Mashru weaving from the Kutch region in Gujarat were selected: one from Bhujodi and the other from Don Village. Data for this exploratory study were collected through participant observation and interview. Mashru weaving was selected for this study owing to its status as a languishing craft, highlighting the need for research to sustain this cultural practice. The study majorly focused upon relevance of workshop in terms of value of interconnectedness of home and workshop to embark creative endeavor, importance of workshop in weaver’s home for sustainability of craft community and in building equality, the cultural value of workshop and its association with craft. This study can be helpful in spreading awareness about need of traditional workshops and its role in motivating next generation in inheriting traditional occupation strengthening & sustaining local resources& wisdom, and in overall development of craft communities to boost creative economy.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{198553,
        author = {Dr. Priyanka Kumari},
        title = {Workshop relevance in sustaining Craft Practice: A Case Study on Mashru Weaving of Kutch},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {10579-10585},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=198553},
        abstract = {Space plays a crucial role in nurturing creativity. In handloom weaving, ease, quality, and efficiency of work is significantly influenced by the nature of workplace as various pre- and post-preparatory processes are integral to the overall weaving process. However, each process requires specific space setting. Being in that live-work space, artisans are in constant interaction with their space, which unknowingly shapes their thought processes and creative expression. The entire process of weaving involves several hands of experts where the associated pre- and post-loom processes often becomes a vital socializing activity for artisans; fostering a vibrant atmosphere where music, dance, gossip, food and community life can thrive. Handloom weaving typically takes place in a cottage setup, providing a conducive learning environment for the weaver’s children. Through observation and hands-on experience, their children learn the intricacies of weaving and allied processes at an early age These face ts associated with space transforms workshop into a more meaningful, multifunctional dynamic space, making it a living testament to tangible heritage. This study was done to understand the role and need of traditional workshops/spaces for artisans. For this study, two weavers specializing in Mashru weaving from the Kutch region in Gujarat were selected: one from Bhujodi and the other from Don Village. Data for this exploratory study were collected through participant observation and interview. Mashru weaving was selected for this study owing to its status as a languishing craft, highlighting the need for research to sustain this cultural practice. The study majorly focused upon relevance of workshop in terms of value of interconnectedness of home and workshop to embark creative endeavor, importance of workshop in weaver’s home for sustainability of craft community and in building equality, the cultural value of workshop and its association with craft. This study can be helpful in spreading awareness about need of traditional workshops and its role in motivating next generation in inheriting traditional occupation strengthening & sustaining local resources& wisdom, and in overall development of craft communities to boost creative economy.},
        keywords = {Mashru weaving, craft practice, textile heritage, Space, workshop, Creativity, Socialization, sustainability.},
        month = {April},
        }

Cite This Article

Kumari, D. P. (2026). Workshop relevance in sustaining Craft Practice: A Case Study on Mashru Weaving of Kutch. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(11), 10579–10585.

Related Articles