Role of Traditional Crafts in Sustainable Development: Reflections on Dumbara Weaving

This study examines how traditional crafts intersect with sustainable development, aiming to uncover factors that support the ongoing viability of rural artisanal livelihoods. The study centers on Dumbara weaving, Sri Lanka's ancient textile tradition, to explore its role in fostering long-term sustainability. For approximately six centuries, Dumbara weaving has been upheld by a few artisan families residing in the village of Talagune nestled in the central hills of Sri Lanka. The Dumbara artisan community, historically relegated to a low caste status, continues to endure marginalization and oppression to this day. The present study proposes that the endurance of Dumbara weaving over time is attributed to its integration into social institutions such as familial and kinship networks, alongside non-kin artisan-patron relationships. Artisans utilize both forms of social relationships to mitigate their marginalized status, perceiving their craft as more than just a means of livelihood. The central focus of this study is on how the Dumbara artisan community negotiate the complexities of tradition and innovation, authenticity and commercialization within a socio-economic structure where elite patrons exert substantial influence. By exploring this two-way relationship, the study deals with how Dumbara weaving contributes to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly emphasizing the sixteenth goal outlined by the United Nations. This goal underscores the significance of respecting and fostering cultural diversity, nurturing cross-cultural understanding and harmony, mitigating inequalities, and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. Dumbara artisans’ commitment to sustainable practices in maintaining social relations through their craft have enabled them to ensure economic prosperity as well as attain upward social mobility by fostering communal values.