Divyashree Choubey

This research investigates how Digital Product Passports (DPPs) can address the misattribution of Indian crafts in global fashion supply chains, with a focus on embroidery, weaving, and block printing. Situated within an interpretivist paradigm, it draws on perspectives from artisans, craft cluster managers, merchandisers, and technology founders to understand the challenges of visibility, recognition, and fair value distribution.

Findings reveal that while Indian crafts are integral to luxury fashion production, they are often obscured in brand storytelling, leaving artisans marginalised in the value chain. Opacity, intermediaries, and compliance-driven documentation practices maintain structural imbalances, yet digital innovations such as DPPs show potential to bridge these gaps by offering transparency, authenticity, and consumer trust.

The study proposes pathways for integrating DPPs into craft supply chains, including collaborative industry standards, policy support, and accessible digital infrastructure for artisans. Such measures aim to reposition Indian crafts more equitably in global markets while safeguarding cultural heritage.

Ultimately, the project highlights the importance of aligning digital innovation with heritage preservation, ensuring artisans are recognised not only as producers but as custodians of culture within the evolving landscape of sustainable fashion.