Empowering Craft Artisan Communities for Sustainable Futures
This PhD research aims to investigate sustainable Craft futures through examining craft-assembled communities, their practices, processes, and products. Anchored in the global climate emergency, it seeks insights to empower social justice amid the environmental crises. For this purpose, this comparative study aims to contribute crucial insights to rebalance future global craft discussions by exploring two craft artisan communities in the United Kingdom, and Indonesia, chosen as significant sites towards craft production and consumption. The research draws on situated observational research methods aimed to reveal local material, and temporal knowledge in these communities beyond an academic contribution towards real-world impacts.
Key details
Area of expertise
More about Martin John
Biography
Currently, a dedicated Ph.D. candidate at the Royal College of Art and a Fellow at the Royal Anthropological Institute, I am passionately engaged in researching sustainable Craft. My focus centres on the exploration of craft-assembled communities, delving into their intricate practices, processes, and resultant products. Rooted in the urgency of the global climate emergency, my research seeks profound insights to empower social justice amidst environmental crises.
Beyond my academic pursuits, I remain an active craft practitioner, predominantly working with embroidery while embracing diverse mediums. In my prior role as Lecturer in Charge at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore, I led the Fashion department's BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Textiles program. Responsible for teaching and coordinating multi-disciplinary textiles, including print, embroidery, knit, weave, and multi-media disciplines, I successfully balanced traditional handcraft with contemporary digital textiles knowledge. This synthesis occurred within the cultural context of Southeast Asia but with a global perspective, contributing to the rich tapestry of global fashion.
Degrees
Falmouth University PGCHE Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education 2021
Nottingham Trent University, Master of Arts with Distinction, Textile Design and Innovation (Advanced Research Module taken) 2015 - 2016
Nottingham Trent University, Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours, Fashion and Textile Design 2007 – 2010
Awards
04/05/2022 Nottingham Trent University held the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes, Junior Research Award at IFFTI - International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes - Reimagine.
01/07/2016 Texprint - a charitable organisation that identifies the top 10 graduates from the UK, providing them with a platform to showcase their work at prestigious events such as PV Paris and London. This initiative serves as a valuable bridge between the educational and industry sectors, offering emerging talents exposure and opportunities to connect with professionals in the field.
Exhibitions
Royal College of Art School of Arts & Humanities PhD exhibition mentored and curated by Beaconsfield. https://beaconsfield.ltd.uk/martin-bonney/
Publications
2022 - IFFTI, Reimagine. Developmental Paper. A Guideline for Conscious Engagement with Craft Artisans
2022 - IFFTI, Reimagine. Disrupting Place-Based Fashion Futures
2021 - Ace IAFOR. Embracing New Identities with Batik
2019 - Cumulus, The Design After, Building New Identities with Batik
2018 - IFFTI, Craft and Culture, Changing the Global Dialog of Fashion
2017 - Cumulus Redo, Academic Poster
Conferences
2022 - IFFTI, Reimagine. Developmental Paper. A Guideline for Conscious Engagement with Craft Artisans
2022 - IFFTI, Reimagine. Disrupting Place-Based Fashion Futures
2021 - THE DIGITAL MULTILOGUE ON FASHION EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, Paris via Zoom
2021 - Ace IAFOR. Embracing New Identities with Batik
2019 - Cumulus, The Design After, Building New Identities with Batik
2018 - IFFTI, Craft and Culture, Changing the Global Dialog of Fashion
2018 - Lasalle College of the Arts, Force of Nature
2017 - Cumulus Redo, Academic Poster