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Abstract

Textiles are part of the handcrafts industry that employs a substantial percentage of India's population. Despite the economic importance of handcrafts, not all decision-making officials support the sector's development. Arguments against government and foundation for developing artisan enterprises point to the stopgap nature of craft production and question whether artisan enterprises foster skills that can lead to new entrepreneurial endeavors. Arguments for artisan development propose models that emphasize capabilities artisans can develop to improve their well-being. Among these, a model developed by economist Amartya Sen distinguishes capability acquisition from entrepreneurial application. In this research, the authors conducted a case study of three artisan entrepreneurs that appeared to demonstrate this distinction. Individuals acquired textile production and business management capabilities while working for a parent fair trade enterprise and applied their skills in forming entrepreneurial ventures. Research identified the most salient capabilities applied to artisan enterprises.

Keywords

Artisans Capabilities Entrepreneurs Fair Trade India Weaving

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Beyond Capabilities: A Case Study of Three Artisan Enterprises in India

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