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The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts

This thesis explores the marketability and economic sustainability of the Tally craft in Gezeirit Shandaweel, Sohag, Egypt, with a focus on how the craft navigates the tension between cultural preservation and economic adaptation. Tally, a traditional form of embroidery, has deep cultural roots in E...

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Main Author: Mabrouk, Mariam
Format: Thesis
Published: AUC Knowledge Fountain 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mabrouk, Mariam
author_browse Mabrouk, Mariam
author_facet Mabrouk, Mariam
author_sort Mabrouk, Mariam
collection Thesis
description This thesis explores the marketability and economic sustainability of the Tally craft in Gezeirit Shandaweel, Sohag, Egypt, with a focus on how the craft navigates the tension between cultural preservation and economic adaptation. Tally, a traditional form of embroidery, has deep cultural roots in Egypt but faces significant challenges due to global market dynamics, shifting consumer preferences, and systemic institutional neglect. Through an ethnographic case study, this research investigates how artisans, institutions, and market forces interact to shape the craft's future. The study examines the role of cultural perceptions, innovation, and institutional support in fostering or hindering Tally's economic viability. By integrating theoretical frameworks from craft studies and examining key mediating factors such as gendered labour, access to markets, and the power dynamics between artisans and designers, the thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of how Tally artisans adapt to modern demands while maintaining cultural integrity. The research also identifies gaps in institutional support and offers policy recommendations for improving the craft’s sustainability. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to the growing discourse on the sustainability of traditional crafts in the Global South, emphasising the need for systemic change to support the livelihoods of artisans and preserve cultural heritage.
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institution American University in Cairo (Egypt)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:35:56.457Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
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spelling oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-3595 The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts Mabrouk, Mariam This thesis explores the marketability and economic sustainability of the Tally craft in Gezeirit Shandaweel, Sohag, Egypt, with a focus on how the craft navigates the tension between cultural preservation and economic adaptation. Tally, a traditional form of embroidery, has deep cultural roots in Egypt but faces significant challenges due to global market dynamics, shifting consumer preferences, and systemic institutional neglect. Through an ethnographic case study, this research investigates how artisans, institutions, and market forces interact to shape the craft's future. The study examines the role of cultural perceptions, innovation, and institutional support in fostering or hindering Tally's economic viability. By integrating theoretical frameworks from craft studies and examining key mediating factors such as gendered labour, access to markets, and the power dynamics between artisans and designers, the thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of how Tally artisans adapt to modern demands while maintaining cultural integrity. The research also identifies gaps in institutional support and offers policy recommendations for improving the craft’s sustainability. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to the growing discourse on the sustainability of traditional crafts in the Global South, emphasising the need for systemic change to support the livelihoods of artisans and preserve cultural heritage. 2025-06-18T07:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2545 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3595/viewcontent/Mariam_Mabrouk_Thesis.pdf Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain Crafts heritage tally artisans marketability Arts and Humanities Folklore Labor Relations
spellingShingle Crafts
heritage
tally
artisans
marketability
Arts and Humanities
Folklore
Labor Relations
Mabrouk, Mariam
The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts
title The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts
title_full The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts
title_fullStr The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts
title_full_unstemmed The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts
title_short The Craft of Tally: Tracing Marketability and Economic Sustainability of Crafts
title_sort craft of tally tracing marketability and economic sustainability of crafts
topic Crafts
heritage
tally
artisans
marketability
Arts and Humanities
Folklore
Labor Relations
url https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2545
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3595/viewcontent/Mariam_Mabrouk_Thesis.pdf
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