Handicrafts exports post positive growth

All seems to be finally getting to be well for the handicrafts sector. After registering massive slips of 19 per cent in 2007-08 and 41.6 per cent in 2008-09, the export of handicrafts from India has registered an increase of 6.55 per cent during the just ended 2009-10 fiscal year.

According to the provisional data released by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the exports have gone up to Rs. 8,718.94 crore as against Rs. 8,183 crore during 2008-09.

In a press release here on Saturday, EPCH Chairman Raj Kumar Malhotra noted that the increase in the export had been across nearly all product categories.

The highest increase was recorded in imitation jewellery exports, where there was a growth of 18.03 per cent. It was followed by woodwares (15.17 per cent), shawls as artware (10.64 per cent), embroidery and crocheted goods (6.12 per cent), zari and zari goods (5.61 per cent), hand printed textiles and scarves (5.6 per cent), and art metalware (4.88 per cent).

Country-wise, the U.S. was the single largest market for the Indian handicrafts during the year, accounting for 29 per cent of the exports. But, as a region, the European Union topped the list, accounting for 40.33 per cent of the exports.

Within the European Union, the U.K. took the lead, buying handicrafts worth Rs. 928 crore from India. It was closely followed by Germany (Rs. 783 crore).

Mr. Malhotra conceded that much more, however, needed to be done to catch up with the momentum achieved by handicrafts exports before the global economic meltdown hit the markets for non-essential items like handicrafts.

For several years, Indian handicraft exports had been consistently clocking a growth of 10 per cent per year until 2006-07, when it reached a peak of Rs. 17,288 crore only to fall to Rs. 14,012 crore in 2008-09 and subsequently to Rs. 8,183 crore in 2009-10 as a result of the global economic problems.

Noting that the government had been taking several measures to promote handicrafts exports, he said the EPCH expected to regain the 10 per cent growth rate this year.

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Musicle Handi Crafts

Piperoid are creative handicrafts produced in Japan, paper pipes are assembled to produce 5 different robot characters.  It is possible to show a wide range of expressions through little pose adjustments due to its movable joints.

Do you still remember how excited you were to make handicrafts when you were a child?  The process to create things with one’s own hands is always thrilling. Why don’t we, adults, enjoy such a sense of excitement, too? Piperoid has been launched in the hope to stimulate adults’creative minds and open the door to familiarity with handicrafts

Check the different characters below:

Muscle Jaw

A dashing robot with a giant’s strength.  He is not a pushy guy but has a tendency to overreact to things and be blind to his surroundings when he is working very hard. So he might be sometimes seen as an annoying guy. He does his best to do everything even though it may be unnecessary. He tends to act before thinking carefully. As a result what he has done often turns out to be a waste and pointless. This is just among us but he is secretly addicted to something which does not fit in with his macho-like character.

Cannon Bull

The concept of "Piperoid" is to produce handicrafts for adults. You just need a pair of scissors to enjoy these easy-to-create paper crafts. Based on the know how to make paper pipes gained through the "Hinemos Kit" project, we developed "Piperoid". Adults can enjoy paper craft in a short time with this. There is no need to use glue and each part is movable. You can display it in your favorite pose on your office desk and insert a memo in its mouth. The opportunity to create things is an indispensable element of human life. However, we spend less and less time devoted to this when we become an adult. "Piperoid" is a kind of supplement for people to spend an enjoyable time.

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Wooden Rehal and elephant

Wooden Elephant

Wooden Rehal

Wooden Rehal

Wooden Horse

Talisman Handicrafts Buddha Utensil Bottle Gourd

This gourd artist utilized compact brass, carving and subtle paint hues to create the piece. Placing this The gourd therefore symbolizes long-life, vitality, and good health at home, office, car is for safety. Also great for keeping you in great spirits during long journeys.

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Wooden Handi Crafts

We introduce ourselves as one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of the India’s finest (Lead free) Blue-pottery artistic items, ceramic tiles, Ethnic Handicrafts and unique combination Jewellery.

We offer LEAD FREE Blue pottery in Exotic color range with a large variety of designs, arts, shapes and sizes which shows its value, use and worth. The innovative, artistic and stylish pottery work of our skilled craftsmen makes it a heart-throb among hundreds of our satisfied customers.

We also specialize in Indian traditional handicrafts, made of wood and bronze. Our modern Indian handicraft is an epitome of changing trends but keeping the essence of Indian culture and tradition intact.

The products made include Animals, Birds, Plates, Flower Vases, Small Pitcher, Trays, Jars, Fruit Bowls, Indian Gods and Glazed Tiles with hand painted floral designs.

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New World Handicrafts Trade Show in Guatemala

As in the previous two years, Counterpart International and USAID co-hosted the third annual New World Handicrafts Central American Trade Show. The event, organized by the Guatemalan Exporters Association’s (AGEXPORT) Arts and Crafts Commission, was held at Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, Guatemala on September 8th and 9th, 2010.

This year’s show featured:

A showroom filled with 100 stands selling high quality handicrafts from all over Central America;

Seminars hosted by international experts covering topics such as “Participation in International Trade Shows,” “Fashion Trends of the American Market,” and “AZO Dyes and their Implications for the Export Market”; and

Seven conferences held during the trade show that touched on important design trends and market intelligence topics, in order to provide market intelligence information to artisans and exporters.

The two day event generated on site sales worth $350,000 for the 100 artisans, while sales from negotiations and orders following the event are projected to generate well over $700,000.

Each year Counterpart introduces innovations to the Trade Show based on feedback from artisans and exporters. This year, Counterpart included workshops in the months leading up to the Trade Show, in order to better prepare artisans and exporters on event expectations and what types of products and commercialization materials to showcase to increase revenue. Each year the event becomes increasingly popular, which has allowed Counterpart to better tailor the show to the vendors’ needs, thus maximizing the experience for all.

The Trade Show provides a boost for local Central American handicraft producers, securing a more stable livelihood. The producers can also use this opportunity to extend their reach, linking their small business in Central America to larger, international designers and buyers. For example, this year, Counterpart and AGEXPORT provided technical assistance in design improvement and process mainstreaming to the Association of Parents and Friends of Handicapped People (ADISA), a special group from the Lake Atitlan region in Solola. ADISA is a group of disabled young men and women who have endured different challenges due to their condition and, after completing basic education, generate income for the organization and their families through handicraft production. Through Counterpart’s support, a group of international designers worked with ADISA members to produce a new line of products, which was showcased at the New World Crafts and other trade shows by local exporter and now partner in business, La Casa Cotzal.

Counterpart has been working in Guatemala since 2003, teaming with local communities to create economic opportunities around tourism – one of the country’s key drivers. We work closely with AGEXPORT, international design firms, local universities and handicraft designers and exporters to produce and sell new products in international markets. Counterpart’s programs have helped create more than 2,100 jobs, train nearly 5,000 people and strengthen 800 tourism businesses and organizations.

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Handicrafts of Pakistan

Pakistan has inherited a rich cultural heritage from its history which is as old as 7000-9000 years old. The imprints left by successive civilizations has left a a rich heritage of handicrafts. The different regions with wide variety of tradition and culture, dialects, folklore, music, dresses and costumes have much to offer to any connoisseur of handicrafts. The Kashmiri Shawls, the Balochi and Sindhi embroidery work, the Peshawari chappals (an indigenous shoe ware) and carpets, camel skin lamps of Multan, Gujrati pottery and the wood and brass work done in different parts of Pakistan have charm of their very own. The handicraft shops in major cities and hotels abound in the handicrafts of Pakistan, which are taken as souvenirs by the tourists from the world over. These specially include the handicrafts made of marble, camel skin, wood and ivory work and cane-basket work. In fact the handicrafts are the most striking expressions of the individuality of Pakistan's regional identities. The color, the shape or style of a craft item instantly evokes its region.

                                         Multan, Bahawalpur and Hala are famous for the blue pottery made of special clay found in these areas. These are wrought by the inherited skill of artisans into paper-thin pottery noted for its elegance, delicacy of design and decorative patterns painted thereon.

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Pak traders thank cash-rich Indian customers

Pakistani textiles, spices and handicrafts have become huge hits at the 30th India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi. Pakistani traders have reported bumper sales thanks to cash-rich Indian customers. Ali Noor, a Karachi-based Pakistani businessman dealing in spices and readymade food
pastes, said, “This is my first experience at the Trade Fair. It’s only three days now and the sales have been great.”

The 28-year-old Noor said that Indian customers had huge amounts of disposable income and were willing to shop for quality goods.

“I get a great many number of customers every day. At this rate my stock would be over even before the fair opens for the general public. It’s not just me but everyone from the textiles, spices, handicrafts and leather sectors feel the same way.”

Although the fair opened Nov 14, it was opened to the general public only after four days during which time only businessmen and those with passes were allowed entry.

Noor’s enthusiasm is measurable. He has sold most of his 200-plus cartons of spices and sub-continental culinary preparations he brought from Pakistan.

He said that one reason for such a response could be that the opportunity to buy Pakistani goods comes rarely because of the lack of trade between the two countries. So people stock up when a chance comes their way.

“I see people visit my stall even after they shop for masalas at other Pakistani stalls. This is because they don’t get quality Pakistani goods in India. I believe the potential for trade between the two countries is enormous,” Noor added.

The Pakistani contingent at the IITF, one of the biggest, includes textile firms like Laila Art, Rohhirung and Nadia’s, and handicraft goods maker Warsi Impex, which have been coming to India for over a decade.

According to Mazhar ul Haq Mufti, director of the Pakistani stalls and assistant secretary to the Karachi-based Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the hunger for Pakistani goods in India was very evident.

This was the reason, he said, for the impressive customer response right from day one of the fair.

“It’s fantastic. In spite of high prices of ticket in the business days, we see very good response. We know some Indian customers wait for a year and keep in touch with vendors to bring their favoured textiles and other goods to the fair,” Mufti said.

Suhmita Malkhani from east Delhi said her shopping bills at the Pakistani stalls totalled about Rs.8,000, mostly for textiles and handicrafts.
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