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Weaving Futures: A Qualitative Review of Jamdani at the Nexus of Tradition, Innovation, Sustainability, and Education

Received: 3 March 2026     Accepted: 20 March 2026     Published: 2 April 2026
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Abstract

Jamdani weaving, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bengal, represents a distinctive intersection of artistry, cultural identity, and socio-economic history. Despite its historical significance, this centuries-old craft faces increasing challenges due to mechanization, the expansion of fast fashion, and the gradual decline of intergenerational knowledge transmission. This study explores Jamdani through a qualitative literature review, focusing on its position at the intersection of tradition, design innovation, sustainable enterprise, and education. Drawing on Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach, relevant academic studies, heritage reports, and fashion-related research were examined. The findings indicate that these four dimensions are deeply interconnected: tradition sustains cultural continuity, innovation enables adaptation to changing markets, sustainable enterprise supports livelihoods, and education ensures long-term skill transmission. At the same time, the study identifies several gaps, particularly the limited availability of field-based research and the need for stronger integration between research, policy, and education. By proposing the concept of “weaving futures,” this paper positions Jamdani not as a static heritage artifact, but as an evolving cultural system. The findings offer insights for researchers, designers, educators, and policymakers working toward sustainable cultural practices in a globalized context.

Published in International Journal of Education, Culture and Society (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14
Page(s) 58-61
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Jamdani Weaving, Cultural Heritage, Design Innovation, Sustainable Enterprise, Qualitative Review, Education, Sustainable Fashion

References
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[3] Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
[4] Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
[5] Chowdhury, F. (2018). Reinventing tradition: The adaptation of Jamdani weaving in contemporary fashion. Journal of Textile Design Research and Practice, 6(2), 215-230.
[6] Clark, H. (2008). SLOW + FASHION—an oxymoron—or a promise for the future? Fashion Theory, 12(4), 427-446.
[7] Dasgupta, S. (2017). Heritage crafts and the challenge of commercialization: Lessons from South Asia. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 20(6), 657-673.
[8] Fletcher, K. (2010). Slow fashion: An invitation for systems change. Fashion Practice, 2(2), 259-265.
[9] Fletcher, K., & Tham, M. (2019). Earth logic: Fashion action research plan. London: The J J Charitable Trust.
[10] Huq, N., & Jahan, I. (2015). Jamdani weaving of Bangladesh: Problems and prospects. Bangladesh Journal of Political Economy, 31(2), 197-212.
[11] Islam, T., & Hossain, M. (2019). Prospects of Jamdani in the global fashion market: An analysis of consumer perception. Asian Journal of Business and Management, 7(1), 15-23.
[12] Jenkins, C. (2018). Heritage crafts and sustainable development: Policy perspectives. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 24(4), 493-509.
[13] Kawamura, Y. (2018). Fashion-ology: An introduction to fashion studies (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
[14] Khan, M. H. (2019). Handloom weaving and sustainable fashion: An analysis of Jamdani in Bangladesh. Fashion and Textiles, 6(1), 12-27.
[15] Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[16] Mitra, S., & Gupta, R. (2020). Digital heritage preservation: Exploring CAD and AI tools in traditional textile innovation. Design Studies, 41(3), 233-248.
[17] Norris, L. (2012). Trade and transformations of secondhand clothing: The global circulation of textile value. Textile, 10(2), 128-143.
[18] Rahman, T., & Chowdhury, M. (2016). Colonial encounters and the decline of Jamdani: Historical perspectives on textile heritage. South Asian Studies, 32(1), 45-61.
[19] Roy, A., & Haque, S. (2015). Craft education in South Asia: A case for integrating handloom weaving into design curricula. Journal of Education and Work, 28(4), 451-468.
[20] Saha, P. (2021). Sustainable livelihood challenges for Jamdani artisans: Policy gaps and opportunities. Journal of Sustainable Development, 14(2), 67-81.
[21] Sen, K. (2014). The socio-economic conditions of Jamdani weavers in Bangladesh. Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 23-30.
[22] Sultana, N. (2019). Vocational education and the revival of handloom weaving: The case of Jamdani in Bangladesh. International Journal of Vocational Education and Training Research, 5(2), 39-48.
[23] UNESCO. (2013). Traditional art of Jamdani weaving. Retrieved from
[24] Venkatesan, S. (2009). Rethinking agency: Persons and things in the heterotopia of “traditional Indian craft.” Journal of Material Culture, 14(1), 5-29.
[25] Wood, J. (2007). Design for micro-utopias: Making the unthinkable possible. Aldershot: Gower Publishing.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mostafiz, A. (2026). Weaving Futures: A Qualitative Review of Jamdani at the Nexus of Tradition, Innovation, Sustainability, and Education. International Journal of Education, Culture and Society, 11(2), 58-61. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14

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    ACS Style

    Mostafiz, A. Weaving Futures: A Qualitative Review of Jamdani at the Nexus of Tradition, Innovation, Sustainability, and Education. Int. J. Educ. Cult. Soc. 2026, 11(2), 58-61. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14

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    AMA Style

    Mostafiz A. Weaving Futures: A Qualitative Review of Jamdani at the Nexus of Tradition, Innovation, Sustainability, and Education. Int J Educ Cult Soc. 2026;11(2):58-61. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14,
      author = {Ananna Mostafiz},
      title = {Weaving Futures: A Qualitative Review of Jamdani at the Nexus of Tradition, Innovation, Sustainability, and Education},
      journal = {International Journal of Education, Culture and Society},
      volume = {11},
      number = {2},
      pages = {58-61},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20261102.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijecs.20261102.14},
      abstract = {Jamdani weaving, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bengal, represents a distinctive intersection of artistry, cultural identity, and socio-economic history. Despite its historical significance, this centuries-old craft faces increasing challenges due to mechanization, the expansion of fast fashion, and the gradual decline of intergenerational knowledge transmission. This study explores Jamdani through a qualitative literature review, focusing on its position at the intersection of tradition, design innovation, sustainable enterprise, and education. Drawing on Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach, relevant academic studies, heritage reports, and fashion-related research were examined. The findings indicate that these four dimensions are deeply interconnected: tradition sustains cultural continuity, innovation enables adaptation to changing markets, sustainable enterprise supports livelihoods, and education ensures long-term skill transmission. At the same time, the study identifies several gaps, particularly the limited availability of field-based research and the need for stronger integration between research, policy, and education. By proposing the concept of “weaving futures,” this paper positions Jamdani not as a static heritage artifact, but as an evolving cultural system. The findings offer insights for researchers, designers, educators, and policymakers working toward sustainable cultural practices in a globalized context.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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    AB  - Jamdani weaving, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bengal, represents a distinctive intersection of artistry, cultural identity, and socio-economic history. Despite its historical significance, this centuries-old craft faces increasing challenges due to mechanization, the expansion of fast fashion, and the gradual decline of intergenerational knowledge transmission. This study explores Jamdani through a qualitative literature review, focusing on its position at the intersection of tradition, design innovation, sustainable enterprise, and education. Drawing on Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach, relevant academic studies, heritage reports, and fashion-related research were examined. The findings indicate that these four dimensions are deeply interconnected: tradition sustains cultural continuity, innovation enables adaptation to changing markets, sustainable enterprise supports livelihoods, and education ensures long-term skill transmission. At the same time, the study identifies several gaps, particularly the limited availability of field-based research and the need for stronger integration between research, policy, and education. By proposing the concept of “weaving futures,” this paper positions Jamdani not as a static heritage artifact, but as an evolving cultural system. The findings offer insights for researchers, designers, educators, and policymakers working toward sustainable cultural practices in a globalized context.
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Author Information
  • Department of Fashion Design & Technology, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

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