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VOL. 12, ISSUE 6 (2025)
Preservation of Karbi textiles: challenges, revival, and the role of gi tags
Authors
Sanskriti Poddar, Kakoli Das
Abstract
India has a rich heritage of traditional
crafts and is the land of beautiful textiles. Craft clusters, particularly in
regions like Assam and other Northeastern states, play a significant role in
preserving this cultural wealth. However, many of these clusters like Karbi
Textile Products, face severe challenges today due to the absence of formal
documentation, leading to a lack of awareness, especially among the younger
generations. This disconnect is causing a decline in traditional crafts, which
have long symbolised cultural identity, power, status, and ambition in these
regions. The research aims to explore the struggles faced by such traditional
craft clusters in Northeast India and investigate how the introduction of
Geographical Indication (GI) tags can aid in their preservation and revival.
GI-tagged textile crafts such as Muga Silk of Assam, Manipuri Wangkhei Phee,
and Mizoram's Puans have benefited from legal protection, yet many other crafts
remain under threat. One of the keys focuses of this study is to examine the
gap in awareness about endangered crafts and propose strategies to increase
their visibility and recognition, both within the region and globally. This
research emphasises the challenges faced by traditional crafts, raises
awareness among the youth, and highlights the need for greater recognition and
documentation efforts. The ultimate goal is to ensure these crafts are
preserved and celebrated as vital elements of India’s cultural heritage
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Pages:83-93
How to cite this article:
Sanskriti Poddar, Kakoli Das "Preservation of Karbi textiles: challenges, revival, and the role of gi tags". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Vol 12, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 83-93
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