Systematic approach to preservation of cultural handicrafts: Case study on fabrics hand-woven in Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to create the ability to maintain significant content to efficiently preserve the Thai hand-woven fabrics and to avoid the extinction of related skills and information. An online platform has the potential to be used as a medium to access the cultural heritage resources. The objectives of this study were to digitise, access, and preserve cultural materials in a case study on Thai hand-woven fabrics by use of a digital platform. The study provides a systematic approach that enhances the design of an online platform to facilitate digitization, accessibility, and preservation of cultural heritage resources associated with Thai Handicrafts, in particular Thai hand-woven fabrics. This study presents the research framework for preserving cultural heritage resources and designing a web-based Information System, which constitutes the online access gateway to cultural heritage resources. This system is enriched with a significant number of functionalities, contributing to the preservation and widespread diffusion of cultural heritage resources. The research methodology was qualitative, utilizing a case study approach. Methodological contributions provide a systematic approach to the transformation of cultural handicraft materials into digital objects. It offers a standard-based archive for online data that can be processed for digitization purposes. This research has expanded participation in craftsmanship communities by providing a digital platform to share their work. The practical contribution is to build the network of the local handicraft community for cohesion, and to provide the means for supporting knowledge exchange as well as know-how transmission from experts to apprentices.