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Design+ Traditional handcrafting and sustainability

The selected studies focus on cases in which traditional Emerging codes were grouped into higher-level themes
techniques and handicrafts constitute an integral part aligned with the research questions, including:
of the garment production process. They distinguish (i) Environmental sustainability through natural
between techniques employed in the early stages of techniques
production and those applied during the transformation (ii) Community-powered models and collective
or decoration of garments – particularly in the context governance
of reuse, recycling, and re-economy initiatives. These (iii) Craft as economic infrastructure.
practices highlight the role of traditional crafts not only
in the creation of new garments but also in extending 3.4. Literature review
the lifecycle of existing clothing through creative and A systematic method was applied to the literature review to
sustainable methods. achieve a comprehensive understanding of the study’s topic.
The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the The review focuses on examining theoretical frameworks
methodology proposed by Denyer and Tranfield, which and current trends related to slow fashion and traditional
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is based on clear and reproducible evaluation criteria. The handicrafts, while also gathering data from a diverse
studies were then categorized according to five key quality range of scholarly sources. In this section, the systematic
criteria: literature review offers an in-depth understanding of the
(i) Clarity of the research question: Assessing whether conceptual foundations of the slow fashion movement and
the study clearly states a hypothesis or research its relationship with traditional techniques, including the
framework ideological and economic aspects embedded within this
(ii) Methodological transparency: Examining whether context.
the study clearly describes and justifies the methods The following key trends and ideas were analyzed:
employed • Collectivity and locality: These are core principles
(iii) Analytical depth: Evaluating whether the study of the slow fashion movement, emphasizing
provides sufficient quantitative or qualitative analysis collaboration within communities and the promotion
to support its findings of local craftsmanship as essential for preserving
(iv) Empirical applicability: Determining whether the cultural traditions. Local communities are reinforced
findings are supported by primary data or case study through the promotion of products rooted in locally
evidence sourced materials and traditional production
(v) Scholarly contribution: Identifying whether the study methods, thereby reducing dependency on large-scale
addresses existing gaps in the literature or suggests industries. Approximately 18.18% of the reviewed
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new research directions. articles engage with the themes of “collectivity and
Each study was rated by two independent evaluators locality,” demonstrating the field’s emphasis on
using a 1 – 5 scale, and those with an overall score above reinforcing local economies and regional identities.
3.5 were included in the systematic review. This strategy • Togetherness and the care economy: The concept of
was adopted to ensure the reliability of the results and the togetherness is linked to the creation of communities
validity of the conclusions. and collaborative networks, where producers and
consumers engage collectively to promote sustainable
Following the initial screening and quality assessment, practices. The care economy emphasizes the
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relevant information from each included source was importance of social and ethical responsibility, in
extracted using a structured form designed to capture: which production and consumption occur with respect
(i) Type of technique or practice (e.g., weaving and for both the environment and the local community. .
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dyeing) Approximately 18.18% of the reviewed articles are
(ii) Dimension of sustainability (e.g., environmental, associated with the concept of “togetherness and the
social, and economic) care economy,” indicating a limited but increasing
(iii) Demographic focus (e.g., women, elders, and emphasis in the literature on the ethical dimensions of
minorities) production.
(iv) Connection to broader conceptual frameworks (e.g., • Community-powered solutions and the we-economy:
we-economy, post-growth, and circularity). Community-powered solutions and the concept of the

The extracted data were subsequently analyzed using we-economy promote the development of alternative
qualitative thematic synthesis, guided by an inductive economic models based on collaboration and solidarity,
coding process. An iterative, manual approach to open aiming to foster self-sustaining local economies. In
coding was then applied. the slow fashion movement, this is reflected in the

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 6 doi: 10.36922/DP025190027