Changing Trends in Weaving Industry of Amarapura, Myanmar

Abstract

Clothing is a basic human need as much as food and shelter. Weaving is an ancient industry in Myanmar. This study explored the changing trends in the weaving industry of Amarapura, Myanmar. Weaving has played a very important role in the study area for its long tradition and new inventions of the artistic design. The main aim of this research is to analyze the changing conditions of weaving industry, based on primary and secondary data sources. The data were collected through questionnaires and direct interviews. The results revealed that employees’ lower productivity was due to their lack of knowledge about modern technologies with modern machines. The owner of a small-scale factory also worried about the situation of no longer existence of their weaving industry. The study finds that women’s woven products changed and developed due to the greater demand for hand-made items while those related to men’s fashions remained the same over time. In addition, types of labor responded to changes to some extent for the greater consumer demand of handmade designs. Depending on the development of technology and changes in consumer demand, continual changes in industrial patterns can be expected in this study area in the future.