INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NOVEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT International Peer Reviewed & Refereed Journals, Open Access Journal ISSN Approved Journal No: 2456-4184 | Impact factor: 8.76 | ESTD Year: 2016
Scholarly open access journals, Peer-reviewed, and Refereed Journals, Impact factor 8.76 (Calculate by google scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool) , Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Indexing in all major database & Metadata, Citation Generator, Digital Object Identifier(DOI)
: Indian crafts have always revealed an ability to evolve with new times & new challenges by keeping their exceptionally sustainable & and hand-crafted manner intact. These crafts have been cherished for generations and are passed on through symbolic narratives through practices, stories, beliefs, and customary traditions (Myths). “Ghongadi”- a hand-spun, hand-woven woolen blanket/Cape from rural parts of Maharashtra state; is one of such crafts known for its most natural, multi-seasonal, multi-purpose & eco-friendly element. With its metaphorical and symbolic mentions in Indian mythology, ritualistic & medicinal uses in the Shepherd community make it rare, having copious holistic facets that reflect the centrality of the craft for a sustainable future. Due to the lack of exposure, awareness, limited products, no market linkages & no product intervention, this craft lagged & unexplored in the Craft & Fashion arena, resulting in a crisis for its identity. “Ghongadi,” having a resilient interconnection with entities such as economy, community, social & sustainable manner, is yet to be explored in Fashion & has the potential to be cherished as an important, meaningful ownership for Maharashtrian Crafts. The paper reveals the uniqueness of the craft from various myths, which were eventually believed to be meaningful truths that prove to be the most meaningful addition to the rich Indian Craft heritage, delivering an identity & hope of a “holistically sustainable craft.”
The research aims to explore the craft of “Ghongadi” & its scope in the fashion context, keeping its holistic approach in mind “to create a meaning & hope not only for the craft but for weavers & the community as well.” The presumed product range is an initiative to bring the craft into the fashion context that proves to be a meaningful solution to answer the current needs of the global fashion agenda from an eco & sustainable perspective. This traditionally significant “Ghongadi,” having a typical stance, was a challenge to be investigated for the Fashion Market. This exploration process needed a strong base & apt methodology for understanding how the current market consents to the change in the existing product of the craft. A comprehensive primary and secondary research & market analysis in terms of Consumer scan & Fashion scan through a survey was essential. The stratified sample of a mix of Fashion & and conscious people from Education, Design, Craft, & Industry were studied to further execute the process. The outcome represents a Social Change that brings “Ghongadi” into the fashion mainstream, fairly to answering current needs of the global fashion agenda by introducing it as a “Holistically Sustainable Craft,” acclaiming a meaning for its existence.
The paper proposes that “Ghongadi,” having a strong context of Myths that are now believed to be the “Meaningful truths” can be tomorrow’s “Hope” not only for the sake of Community and Weavers but also to build a strong “Holistically Sustainable” option that brings “Meaning” to the life and environment.
Keywords:
Woolen Blanket/ Cape, Holistic & Sustainable Craft, Creating hope & meaning through myths, Fashion Product exploration, Life and Environment
Cite Article:
"Ghongadi- A (Woolen) Blanket from “Myth to a Meaningful” Survival through Product Exploration", International Journal of Novel Research and Development (www.ijnrd.org), ISSN:2456-4184, Vol.9, Issue 4, page no.g774-g780, April-2024, Available :http://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2404698.pdf
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ISSN:
2456-4184 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.76 Calculated By Google Scholar| ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.76 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator
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