Sadu Weaving Between Authenticity and Modernity in Contemporary Design

This study investigates the tension facing the textile heritage of Al-Sadu weaving: the conflict between archival preservation of traditional symbolism and the demands of contemporary design markets. Following its inscription on the UNESCO Representative List in 2020, Sadu has transitioned from a utilitarian Bedouin necessity to a high-status national icon in Saudi Arabia. To examine this evolution, this paper traces Sadu scholarship through a systematic review of 42 publications (2004–2026) employing a cultural sustainability framework. The methodology utilized a dual-layered evaluative process to identify publication trends, dominant research directions, and the extent to which authenticity is preserved within contemporary design applications. The findings reveal a clear shift from descriptive ethnography toward an operational, design-oriented model. However, this shift risks semiotic flattening as the craft is increasingly digitized into decorative surface motifs. By situating its regional findings within broader cross-cultural textile discourses, this study argues that the survival of Sadu depends on preserving the intrinsic social significance of its production processes rather than its surface esthetics alone.