Artisans and Fair Trade: Crafting Development - Softcover

Littrell, Mary A.; Dickson, Marsha A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1565493214 ISBN 13: 9781565493216

Publisher: Kumarian Press, 2010

Synopsis

* Addresses the cultural conditions under which artisan work provides a feasible income alternative to other employment options
* Offers a methodology for assessing the socio-economic impacts of fair trade artisan work

After agriculture and tourism, artisan work provides the next most significant source of income in many developing countries. Yet because of its image as a “soft” or frivolous industry, some politicians and development professionals question whether the handcraft sector is worthy of investment. An opposing view holds that the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for poor people and a positive alternative to mass production outweighs the costs. Until now, the debate has been hampered by a lack of industry data.

The apparel group MarketPlace: Handwork of India serves as the perfect case study to provide this missing information. Like many fair trade companies, it has dual goals: to generate income in the global marketplace and foster the empowerment of the low-income workers who run and staff the business. In conducting interviews with MarketPlace’s artisans, managers, and founders, Littrell and Dickson produced an in-depth socio-economic audit of the group over time. The result, Artisans and Fair Trade, provides a quantitatively and qualitatively illuminating study of fair trade impacts and a methodology that is sure to inform current assessment practices in social entrepreneurship and business social responsibility.

About this title

About the Author

Mary A. Littrell is Professor and Department Head in Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. Dr. Littrell’s research addresses multiple facets of business social responsibility, with special focus on artisan enterprises. Across her internationally recognized work, she has examined how textile artisan enterprises achieve viability in the increasingly competitive global market for artisan products.

Review

"Much has been written about the role of artisan production in promoting socio-economic development, especially for poor women, but there is surprisingly little empirical work that documents the outcomes of artisan and craft work, especially under fair trade conditions. "Artisans and Fair Trade" helps close the gap by focusing on MarketPlace, and there is no better place than India for such an in-depth case study. India has a rich history of artisan textiles, it has embraced global trade with vigor in the past two decades, and it confronts multiple issues of poverty and female disempowerment."

"This book provides a vivid portrayal of the lives and aspirations of women handicraft workers in India and reveals how fair trade relations can strengthen individual and collective capabilities. The Marketplace story is inspiring, showing how development and business goals can combine in building a more equitable world."

"An inspirational case study of a Fair Trade textile group in Mumbai, set in the context of the broader ethical certification movement. Quantitative and qualitative studies of the artisans' lives emphasizes the impact that collaborative production and direct market access has on these remarkable women."

"Provides a critical exploration of the real meaning and motivation of “Fair Trade.” Based on in-depth research that follows a pioneering fair trade organization over eight years, the book presents a thorough, thoughtful and compelling assessment of the impacts of fair trade practices on the artisans who form its base... hopefully it will bring increased support for cultural industries and decent work for the creative and skilled artisans of the world."

Edition details

• Publisher: Kumarian Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1565493214
• ISBN 13: 9781565493216
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 230