Sustainable Co-creation and Co-learning for Craft Appropriation: An Experience with Mashru Craft of Gujarat

Abstract

The word ‘craft’ itself symbolizes a construct of sustainability. Though, the extent of sustainability depends on numerous factors like material, production technique, product quality, fair wages and many more. Today we can see a tremendous upsurge in demand of indigenous products. These consumers are more sensitive and mindful not only towards product but also towards product production process and associated narratives. Due to this, greater number of artisans and designers are coming together for cocreation which is opening new avenues for craft appropriation and co-learning. This is changing the traditional pedagogy of knowledge sharing, knowledge creation and helping in foundation of better-knit, self-sufficient inclusive society. In this study, researcher has shared her lived experiences of cocreation with a Mashru weaver - Babu bhai Manodia from Bhujodi village of Kutch district of Gujarat. The entire narration is based on a socio-ecological prototyping of Mashru fabric where a small motif was developed to understand its technical know-how and design possibility. Due to limitation of shafts in existing pit loom, this frugal approach was adopted. With the existing materials from immediate surrounding, product prototype was created. It was an experiential approach of inclusive cocreation that foster indigenous innovation and combine technical, social, and ecological component for interventions that deepen equity, resilience, and sustainability. This experience enabled smooth sharing of tacit and design knowledge between the artisan and designer at same level and space. It helped in appropriating knowledge and skill from simple to complex level.