Innovation Rooted in Tradition: Synthesizing Banarasi Brocade and Kota Doria as an Indian Knowledge System for Sustainable Craft, Cultural Continuity, and Community Enterprise

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-615-4_14How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Indian Knowledge Systems; Banarasi Brocade; Kota Doria; Textile Synthesis; Artisan Livelihood; Handloom Innovation

Abstract

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) embody cumulative, practice-based wisdom embedded in cultural expressions such as crafts, agriculture, architecture, and community life. Handloom weaving traditions, in particular, function as living repositories of ecological intelligence, material knowledge, social organization, and intergenerational skill transmission. This paper examines the synthesis of two distinguished Indian weaving traditions Banarasi brocade of Uttar Pradesh and Kota Doria of Rajasthan as a model of “innovation rooted in tradition” within the framework of IKS. Rather than viewing this textile fusion as merely an aesthetic intervention, the study positions it as a sustainable pathway for cultural continuity, artisan livelihood regeneration, and community-based enterprise.

Banarasi brocade is known for intricate zari work, dense silk structures, and ceremonial richness, while Kota Doria is recognized for its lightweight, checkered khat structure and climatic suitability. Both traditions face challenges due to mechanization, imitation, and changing market preferences. Through practice-based textile experimentation, material analysis, motif adaptation, and cluster observations, this study demonstrates how their synthesis produces a lightweight brocade that retains cultural depth while gaining contemporary usability. The paper argues that this woven integration exemplifies key IKS principles: sustainability through low-energy handloom processes, cultural inclusion through inter-regional craft dialogue, and economic resilience through collaborative enterprise. By analyzing this textile synthesis as indigenous innovation, the study proposes that craft revival lies in creative continuity rather than static preservation, offering a replicable model for sustainable growth and artisan dignity.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Mahak Sharma
AU  - Shikha Verma
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
TI  - Innovation Rooted in Tradition: Synthesizing Banarasi Brocade and Kota Doria as an Indian Knowledge System for Sustainable Craft, Cultural Continuity, and Community Enterprise
BT  - Proceedings of the Anubhuti 4.0: Discourses in Indian Knowledge Systems – Pathways of Culture, Inclusion, and Sustainability (ICIKS 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 164
EP  - 178
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-615-4_14
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-615-4_14
ID  - Sharma2026
ER  -