Global leaders meet in Glasgow, Scotland, at the end of this month to attend COP26-2021, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The Paris Agreement will be put to the test by each leader and their country. While these discussions and ideas may seem foreign to most, we do not remain isolated from their consequences.
Global leaders meet in Glasgow, Scotland, at the end of this month to attend COP26-2021, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. This will be a test of each leader’s, nation’s, and people’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. While these discussions and ideas may seem foreign to most, the consequences of inaction are still very real.
We, as a country, know how important it is to respect nature, the environment, and the people. But somewhere along the line, we have lost our way. We have also lost touch with the richness and value of our heritage and the solutions that it can offer.
The words “sustainable,” “empowerment,” and “circular” are overused, and we’re led to believe that they solve the larger problems. All of these words mean nothing or have no impact if we don’t share how we get there. It is important to be transparent about the products we make, their origins, and who makes them.
Transparency is essential for sustainability.
Many businesses have evolved to meet the needs of socially conscious consumers. Consumers are more concerned about making the right decisions after the COVID-19 epidemic. They want to do the right thing for themselves, their families, and the environment. Blockchain technology is in high demand due to the growing consumer demand for sustainability, especially within the fashion industry. This allows brands to prove that their products are produced sustainably and ethically. Transparency makes brands accountable and leads to more ethical sectors.
What relevance does this have to Sri Lankan handloom?
Handloom: Before and now
For over 30 years, my family has been running a social enterprise called Selyn. This promotes handloom and helps over 1000 rural artisans in Sri Lanka. We must understand the history of the industry before diving into Blockchain.
The Sri Lankan handloom industry has a long history dating back over 2500 years and is a sustainable one. It has provided thousands of jobs to rural communities and artisans across the country. The industry is in a state of deterioration despite the efforts of many, including the recent negative impact on the Sri Lankan tourism sector. The core problem is, in my opinion, that the value of Sri Lankan handlooms has decreased over the past few years.
Handlooms are no longer seen as valuable artifacts that embody our culture and history and speak to the talents of skilled artisans. Too often, our artisans are not praised for their skill and instead are viewed through the lens of charity. Sri Lankan handlooms must be pitched at premium markets that value quality and speed over quantity. In addition, perhaps even more innovatively, increasing transparency in our production methods through the integration of Blockchain technology into our supply chain will allow us to tell the Sri Lankan story better, address the “green-washing” debate, and provide consumers with verified data to help them make a more informed purchase. Global emerging trends support this hypothesis since premium markets and conscious consumers are increasingly interested in the heritage and responsibility of ethical and fair trade brands. I believe that this is a great opportunity for the handloom industry, but also for many Sri Lankan companies.
Blockchain: Paving The Way
Blockchain is the ideal tool for companies that control their supply chains and are committed to ethical and fair trading practices. Blockchain is integrated at every stage of the supply chain, from fiber to fashion, so that consumers can be aware of the ingredients and production methods of their products. The blockchain technology records each step of the production process so that consumers have access to independently verified, real-time metadata.
But that’s just the beginning. The consumer can customize the QR code, and then if the product is resold or given to another person, it will enable the circularity needed for the development. This means that we in the apparel industry, as well as those of us who work in the handloom sector, can share information about the product’s origins, including where it was produced. It’s more than just a storytelling exercise. This technology requires that we pay attention to the people involved at every stage of the supply chain: who is working for the brand? In what factories are they located? Are they safe? Do they receive a living wage, and how many hours are they working each day? Do they have rights as workers, or are they not paid enough money? This technology also makes us aware of the waste that we send into our oceans and forests, and it forces us to think about how we can be more carbon-neutral while maximizing profit. We can humanize our supply chain and distribute the premiums fairly to all the people involved in bringing a product to the market. We work with artisans and craftsmen who have decades of experience and skill. All of them are part of the process, and our consumers deserve to know how much work goes into creating apparel. Weavers deserve to be repaid for their craft.
This is easier said than accomplished, and brands that have invested in ethical trading/fair trade and operating standards will find it very easy to start the integration process. This process will also require a change in mentality from the traditional business approach of competition within an industry to one that is based on collaboration and cooperation. Effective partnerships across the entire sector are needed for Sri Lankan handlooms to flourish. Sri Lankan handlooms can only grow and be protected if they shift to cocreation, where all parties benefit from recognition and economic gain. The same is true for Sri Lanka’s craft sector.
Selyn: Embracing Blockchain
Selyn, Sri Lanka’s fair-trade handloom business, has a vision to create a sustainable model of business that will grow and empower the livelihoods of over 1,000 women. We are dedicated to revolutionizing our industry after 30 years by integrating new technologies, encouraging transparency in supply chains, and transforming the products we offer. Our purpose-driven business model, we believe, will lead to greater economic benefits and better sustainability goals. It will also restore pride and dignity for our artisans.
We envision a new future for the handloom industry. We believe that by integrating blockchain technology into our supply chain, we can present a brand of authentic and responsible craftsmanship to the world. Selyn, leveraging its fair-trade roots and social enterprise credentials with COVID-19 speeding up our work, is repositioning itself in the handloom industry to take advantage of emerging market opportunities. We want to combine a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices with greater transparency to create a niche for handloom, an important part of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. We are also working to get the industry on board. We think that blockchain technology in the handloom industry is a great step forward to positioning Sri Lanka as a global leader that combines tradition and technology for sustainability.
I believe that blockchain technology is the future for handloom and the entire apparel industry. This technology can also benefit many other sectors in Sri Lanka. The widespread adoption of Blockchain is not without its challenges, but the technology’s future potential is unmatched. Now, the only question is whether Sri Lankan companies are ready to embrace this new future.
Author
Selena is the Director of Business Development at Selyn. Selyn is Sri Lanka’s sole fair-trade handloom firm and one the largest social enterprises in the country. Selyn works with the traditional Sri Lankan handloom community to bring products made from 100% cotton and infinite amounts of skill and dedication. Selyn was founded in 1991 by Sandra Wanduragala with 15 women from the village of Wanduragala near Kurunegala. Selyn works with over 1000 artisans who are empowered in rural Sri Lanka.
