How Traditional Craftsmanship Can Lead the Green Revolution?

Crafts! An art of tailored perfection, a result of shared knowledge, and an evolution from shared cultural practices. It is a result of products that stay rooted in our tradition while evolving with modernism. However, there is a strong synergy between craft and sustainability, which is essential to investigate systematically. The World Commission on Environment and Sustainable Development in 1987 stated the definition of sustainability as the inheritance from the past for the development of products in the present that do not hamper the future. Taking inspiration from this, countless brands like Samakhya are taking initiatives in establishing traditional craftsmanship. This has recognized the following benefits:.

Benefits Of Traditional Craftsmanship

One of the imperative reasons to protect traditional craftsmanship is its ability to preserve the cultural heritage. The craftsmen promote their art forms, establishing the strong connection between beliefs, traditions, and values of a particular community while keeping up the environmental benefits of the traditional crafts. This is benefiting the present and future generations in the following ways.

Usage Of Natural Materials

Natural resources like land, water, air, forests, and minerals, are being used extensively, resulting in overexploitation of resources and adverse consequences like wildfires, deforestation, oil spills, and numerous ecological hazards. Sustainable practices defy exploitation and use these resources in a manner that fulfills the present needs without hampering the future. The process involves eco-friendly production that maintains the fine line between environmental protection, economic growth, and social equity. Samakhya’s organic cotton production is one of the examples of the same promoting biodegradability, reusability, and economic growth.

Low Energy Usage

Energy production and consumption practices are leading to numerous environmental problems like climate change, air pollution, water pollution, solid-waste disposal, thermal pollution, and more. Sustainable artisan techniques of production help in preventing it. For example, brands like Samakhya involve local artisans from marginal areas like Thar Desert, who follow eco-friendly production, use traditional handcrafted techniques, and create textiles that are harmless to both the environment and the consumers.

Minimal Waste

Solid, liquid, and gastric wastes from energy production and consumption pollute the environment, leading to drastic global warming impacts. Amidst this, sustainable craftsmanship has led to a green revolution, resulting in environment-protecting behavioral practices adapted by companies. Samakhya’s sustainable and eco-friendly practices are among one such example of a brand mastering zero-waste patterns. It involves the pattern of upcycling, i.e., reducing, reusing, and recycling, to constantly produce textiles without hampering the natural resources.

Biodiversity

Sustainable production mostly relies on eco-friendly resources and extensive use of biodiversity, eliminating more reasons for energy consumption and pollution. Samakhya illustrates the same by using sheep wool and pastoral fibers for textile and insulation production. But it is not just about the 2% wool extracted for textile production. But they also use the remaining 98% residue of pastoral fibers for sustainable production like thermal insulation. This guarantees preservation of biodiversity.

Socio-Economic Impact

Sustainable textiles have led to a socio-economic revolution in the world, as today people are applauding local craftsmanship, and businesses are increasing opportunities for the same. This has lead to a social impact, empowering communities worldwide. Adopting social practices and increasing ethical production opportunities, especially in the marginal areas, has enhanced the socio-economic impact by guaranteeing fair wages, increasing opportunities in the local areas, preserving traditional craftsmanship, and providing safe working conditions for empowering local businesses. Samakhya encourages the same by building a force of local craftsmen resourced with eco-friendly and modern technology for production.

Cultural Preservation

Traditional cultural heritage is a wide tapestry of vibrancy, locally resourced raw material, and eco-friendly production. Traditional craftsmanship endures the same and produces items boasting the rich heritage of traditional art and craft that has been passed down through generations. Brands like Samakhya are acknowledging the same and extracting these sustainable practices that are positively impacting the present and saving the future. Their eco-friendly textile production channel is exemplary of harmless production and security of the environment.

Challenges And Opportunities

While traditional craftsmanship is opening more doors to sustainability, it also faces several challenges.

Modern Market Pressure: Innovating While Preserving Tradition

The modern market introduces frequent technological advancements, threatening the survival of traditional craftsmanship. The younger generation is less likely to learn these skills and continue traditional methods. To avoid this modern market pressure and preserve tradition, brands like Samakhya are promoting more opportunities for the artisans in the rural areas. This synergy has led to modern innovative sustainable artisan techniques that also preserve tradition.

Consumer Awareness: Educating On Benefits

Consumer awareness for promoting green revolution and participating in sustainable practices is gradually taking a drift, with a rise of 62% of sustainable consumerism globally. For this, brands like Samakhya have been in business for the past 35 years, educating myriads of people about sustainability, environmental preservation, and a secured future.

Bottom Line

Traditional craftsmanship is the only path towards sustainability, eco-friendly production, and a greener planet. Make your contribution to a better future by expanding your knowledge on traditional crafts and encouraging local artisans and traditional practices to reach the wider world. This is the only tangible link left to stay rooted to the rich cultural heritage while preserving the future