A joint research study led by Dr. Rambabu Muppidi, Faculty, LLPD, FDDI Hyderabad campus, has been published in the California-based Juniper Publishers journal Current Trends in Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering (ISSN: 2577-2929), a Scopus-indexed international journal from the USA.
The research paper, titled “Palm Leaf Craft in the Digital Age: Preserving India’s Cultural Legacy – A Reference to the Nava Women Empowerment Centre through Palm Leaf Crafts,” appears in Volume 9, Issue 4 (15 October 2025), pp. 01–011, with DOI 10.19080/CTFTTE.2025.09.555768, and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. The manuscript is available in e-pub, full-text, and audio formats and is indexed in PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and other academic platforms, with access provided through the link: https://juniperpublishers.com/ctftte/CTFTTE.MS.ID.555768.php
The research team includes Mr. K. Elayaraja, Senior Faculty, Department of Footwear Design & Production (FDP), FDDI Hyderabad; Mr. Vishva Kumar, Senior Faculty, FDP, FDDI Chennai; Mr. Mattagunja Anirudh, Student, LLPD, FDDI Hyderabad; and Mrs. Kalapala Vanaja, Librarian, Elate International School, Telangana.
Conducted as part of the Combined Term Project (CTP-5), the study focuses on traditional home-based interior product design within utility craft-making clusters in Telangana, particularly in and around Palvancha, Kothagudem, and the Nava Women Empowerment Centre, where more than 20 artisans participated in primary interviews to share insights on their skills and craft processes.
Integrating manual sketches, 3D design software, and CAD modeling, the research explores innovative design perspectives and modern applications of traditional palm leaf crafts, and as noted by the authors, the field visit in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, especially in Palvancha and the surrounding villages, enabled extensive data collection and artisan engagement, reinforcing the significance of preserving traditional craft knowledge through contemporary design methodologies.
