B. M Natha Exports

A diverse country with rich culture, history and traditions, India reflects its true colors of art and heritage through its handicrafts products. One of the major producers and suppliers of Handicrafts products in the world, India counts for a strong labor intensive cottage based industry that is spread in rural as well as urban areas. Still unexplored from its potential areas, Indian handicraft industry highlights three major aspects:

 

• Low capital investment

• High ratio of value addition

• High potential for export and foreign exchange earnings

 

Every state of India offers a different variety of handicrafts to meet the global demands. Some of the major centers of handicraft production in India are:

 

• Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh: Brass articles

• Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh: Wooden articles

• Ferozabad, Uttar Pradesh: Glass items

• Jaipur, Rajasthan: Jaipuri quilts, Bagru and Sanganer printed textiles

• Jodhpur, Rajasthan: Wooden and wrought iron furniture

• Kutch, Gujarat: Embroidered decorative items

• Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh: Lace and lace goods

 

Each major hub of handicrafts utilizes a unique medium to express its originality. From textiles to wood, from ceramic and glass to metals and stones, India offers a plethora of options that have now formed a key industry at the global platform. A brief overview of the types of Indian handicrafts is as under:

 

• Statues and idols: Intricate carvings of Gods and Goddesses in material like marble, brass, mud, lak, wooden and terracotta.

• Ornaments: Available in a range of patterns, styles and compositions in different material like brass, copper, bronze, bell metal and many more

• Hand printed textiles: Block, printing, screen printing, batik, bandhej, kalamkari and bandhani

• Wooden decorative articles

• Glass and ceramic products: For crockery and show pieces

 

With the growing demands of handicrafts in the world and changing consumer taste and trends, the Indian handicrafts industry is witnessing a major change. Due to the incorporation of changing designs and patterns, there has been a drastic change in the raw material, product development and production facilities. This has explored the unorganized as well as organized sectors of the Indian handicrafts industry and brought about an economic uplift in the country’s earnings.