Giveh-weaving handicraft of Abadeh facing challenges
Giveh is a kind of soft, comfortable, durable and handmade shoe that is common in several parts of Iran. Giveh-weaving is a traditional handicraft in Fars Province, particularly in the city of Abadeh. However, due to the increased use of machine-made products, the demand for handmade items, especially giveh, has significantly fallen.
This has resulted in a lack of interest in younger generations to pursue this craft. Economic fluctuations, market instability, high price of raw materials, and low demand have caused giveh-weaving, like many other handicrafts, to stagnate.
Despite this, Ali Mostaghni, a 26-year-old nursing graduate, has been practicing giveh-weaving for eleven years since he learned it from his grandfather. He believes that giveh-weaving was once a high-income profession in Abadeh, and the giveh produced in this city was well-known in the southern region of the country.
However, the shortage in raw materials and lack of interest from the younger generation has led to a decline in the number of giveh-weavers in Abadeh.
Mostaghni emphasizes the importance of supporting this profession, which is currently practiced by only a few elderly individuals. The majority of customers for these handicrafts are members of the Qashqaei and Bakhtiari tribes, who use them as traditional clothing.
“We ask the authorities to teach giveh-weaving to interested students studying in art schools because they should start it at the age of 15-16, and become skilled after several years of apprenticeship. We urge the city’s officials to work on revitalizing the handicraft through media and financial assistance,” he said.
Mohammad Ali Jabari, the head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Abadeh, stated that facilities are available for those engaged in the handicrafts sector.
“There is a lack of interest in this field, but if we establish the necessary infrastructure and training facilities in the county, more people would be willing to learn this art.”
He mentioned that woodcarving workshops have been initiated in the Cultural Heritage Department and similar plans can be made for other handicrafts including giveh-weaving.
He emphasized that the Cultural Heritage Department of Abadeh is working on promoting this handicraft, and there is good cooperation between the provincial organization and the municipality of Abadeh.