Paper Title
Social Enterprises As Agents of Change for The Weaving Sector: The Case of Greece
Abstract
In the last decades, the weaving sector in Greece has been constantly decreasing in size, to the point where there is
very limited activity in some of the country‟s Regions. At the same time, the sector‟s production chain seems to be fragmented
and in bad shape, especially where raw materials are concerned, as some of its links are in danger of disappearing. In some
Greek Regions, social enterprises have emerged, attempting to counter some of these problems. Drawing from data collected
for a National Research project, a study commissioned by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture in order torevitalise Greek
handicrafts, this paper aims to examine the willingness of artisans/craftsmen to participate in social enterprise ventures, the
role that social enterprises can play and their potential to act as agents of change for the weaving sector in Greece. In this
context, three separate and distinct cases of social enterprises are examined, each contributing in a different way, in an attempt
to identify their value in the revitalisation of the weaving sector.
Keywords - Greece, Weaving, Social Entrepreneurship, Handicrafts, Social Enterprises