Skill Formation and Career Development of Master Craftswomen in the Korean Clothing and Textile Industry

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate clothing and textile craftswomen's unique skill and career development mechanism, which is quite different from those of professional women in a firm's internal labor market. During their childhood and youth, the craftswomen first acquired their basic skills from family members. In the heyday of the industry, the craftswomen did not work for large companies but were engaged in one of three types of economic activities: running their own shops for patrons, organizing small home teams for production, or specializing in overseas orders. These activities shared a common characteristic-the craftswomen were responsible for every step of the production process from conception to execution. This comprehensive experience resulted in their skills being upgraded; however the crisis of the clothing and textile industry in the mid-80s and the 90s finally provided the craftswomen with opportunities to upgrade their skills to mastery level. This crisis led the craftswomen to grasp the importance of design and further articulate their encompassing knowledge and skills. This, in turn, enabled them to produce high-value-added products and handle artistic/creative works. The career development pattern of the craftswomen is similar to the portfolio career development of atypical professionals, such as freelancers. The craftswomen actively constructed social networks by attending formal educational institutions and informal social gatherings.