Globalization and the UK Ceramic Industry
- Submitting institution
-
University of Sunderland
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 1279
- Type
- T - Other
- DOI
-
-
- Location
- -
- Brief description of type
- Two book chapters and a monograph
- Open access status
- Out of scope for open access requirements
- Month
- -
- Year
- 2017
- URL
-
http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/12496/
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
0
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This submission consists of two book chapters, and a monograph published by Bloomsbury Academic in 2017. Ewin’s research has explored various impacts of globalisation on the UK ceramic industry, historically centred in the North Staffordshire region. In a period of great change, the research traced how ceramic production has responded to globalisation in both familiar and unexpected ways. Although major manufacturers such as Wedgwood and Royal Doulton began to move production to cheaper labour markets in East Asia, others remained, or even returned production to England, once it became clear that outsourcing was adversely affecting the brand value and customer perception of their products.
Ewin’s publications have explored the complex behaviour of the UK ceramics industry, using a combination of evidence from the press, trade journals, ceramic objects, and primary interview evidence of manufacturers, retailers and a ceramic designer. His detailed research has shown that although the surface designs of UK ceramics invariably reflect diverse cultural and stylistic influences, a notion of authenticity often still resides in the place and context in which the ceramic product was originally made. The meaning of the product cannot always be created by skilful marketing and branding. Ironically, the demand for ceramics manufactured in England has steadily increased in Eastern markets, as these countries have become wealthier.
Overall, Ewin’s research demonstrates the way UK ceramics remains a complex example of how an industry has responded to globalisation due to issues of supply and demand, and ties to heritage, imagined or otherwise. The research has highlighted deeper cultural issues, beyond the physical shift of production to other regions, which potentially has huge ramifications on UK manufacturing futures.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -