An Integrated Approach to Assess Potential and Sustainability of Handmade Carpet Production in Different Areas of the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran

Samereh Pourmoradian, Ali Vandshoari, Davoud Omarzadeh, Ayyoob Sharifi, Naser Sanobuar and Seyyed Samad Hosseini
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Samereh Pourmoradian: Department of Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
Ali Vandshoari: Faculty of Carpet, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
Davoud Omarzadeh: Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
Ayyoob Sharifi: Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima 739-8530, Japan
Naser Sanobuar: Department of Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
Seyyed Samad Hosseini: Department of Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: A handmade carpet is one of the most well-known handcrafts around the world. Iranian handmade carpets are known as luxury products in domestic and international markets due to their strength and product value. The main objective of this research is to apply a geographical information system (GIS)-based, spatially-explicit approach to assess the sustainability of handmade carpet production in the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran, which is internationally famous for the diversity and quality of its handmade carpets. To achieve this goal, we employed 23 criteria in four main clusters: population characteristics, education status, employment status, and business activities related to the carpet industry. In order to determine the significance of each criterion, an integrated approach of fuzzy and network analysis processes was applied. Accordingly, the GIS aggregation function was employed to map and identify the areas that are suitable and of high potential for handmade carpet production. The results indicate that there is a very high potential for handmade carpet production in some areas of Tabriz, Osku, Marageh, Heris, and Meyaneh counties. However, high sustainability also extends to some areas in Marand, Bonab, and Kalaybar counties. The obtained maps present the potential of each city and village for handmade carpet production. The research also aims to evaluate and suggest relevant policies and practices to overcome the identified challenges in order to promote, develop, and preserve the handmade carpet sector. The results of this research are of great importance for different stakeholders in the handmade production and for decision makers and authorities in the East Azerbaijan Province. The results can be used to determine the potential of each area for handmade carpet production and to highlight potential challenges. This research also presents a new approach for sustainability assessments in studies on handcrafts and, in particular, carpets.

Keywords: handcrafts; business; markets; cultural heritage; sustainability assessment; the East Azerbaijan province; Iran (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2251-:d:502153

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