Trending Handicraft Products in the Indian Expo Market 2022
The Popularity of Indian Handicrafts
India has achieved a very prominent position in the international market when we talk about the handicraft industry. For years, people have acknowledged and admired Indian handicraft works and continue to do so even today. The Indian handicraft industry employs millions of workers including men and women. Export of such products is of great significance for the country as it helps in generating a substantial amount of revenue from foreign countries while preserving its rich culture and heritage. The Indian handicrafts products are renowned for their beauty and workmanship. It has immense popularity among a specific segment of people both in India and abroad. The Indian handicraft industry is a small-scale cottage industry and has evolved significantly over years in terms of increasing its global reach. It is now quite obvious that handicrafts products have a huge demand in the market so manufacturers need to adopt the best possible ways to promote the products. The handicrafts industry is decentralized and labor-intensive and it is very essential to improve the export volume for the industry to flourish and generate profitability. Reaching a wider range of customers at the domestic and international level, the popularity of Indian handicraft products will increase and help to generate more revenue and employment opportunities. This can be made possible in an easy way by using technology and online platforms like Craftezy.
Category of Handicraft Products
The Indian handicraft products are acknowledged worldwide for their creative design, variety, and craftsmanship. The handicrafts products can be classified broadly into two categories based on the user requirements and functionality. The two major categories of Indian handicraft items are as follows:
- Consumer products
- Decoration items
Consumer products mainly include consumer goods that are used regularly. Some of the specialized consumer products are earthen and metal wares, handloom, and hand-embroidered textiles, carpets, jewelry, footwear, jute baskets, etc. The other category refers to purely decorative items and showpieces. These may include hand paintings and wall hangers, stone sculptures, lamps, items made from metal, ceramic, and wood and terracotta products. These products are prepared by skilled artisans and involve specialized craftsmanship. Painting, hand dyeing, handloom weaving, woodblock printing are some of the traditional techniques used in making handicraft products. Most handicraft products are unique and exquisite, making them an ideal export product. A huge segment of overseas customers prefers such Indian handicrafts for their homes or commercial places. They also encourage others to have possession of such goods as a sign of India’s rich culture and tradition.Â
The Exclusiveness of Indian Handicrafts
The Indian handicrafts industry is fairly large and it deals with different types of products. It is very important to highlight the special features of each of the products to attract customers all over the world. Handicrafts are unique items that are either handmade or made with simple tools rather than machines. These are prepared by artisans in different parts of the country and represent the traditional, cultural, and artistic values of that place. The aesthetic and decorative value of the products has made them increasingly popular. There is an increase in demand for handicraft items as the country’s travel and tourism industry grows. Tourists are known to spend money on souvenirs and other craft items, allowing local craftspeople to produce and sell more handicrafts. Furthermore, rising disposable incomes and willingness among certain groups of people to invest in vintage and high-quality handicraft products are driving the handmade products’ market growth. There has been a steady increase in the use of handmade décor accessories in homes, offices, restaurants as well as in social functions.
Trending Handicraft Products
The success of the handicrafts business and growth of this industry largely depends on how the manufacturers get themselves updated about the market trend and customer preferences. The potential customers also should get to know about Indian handicraft items as a symbol of tradition, culture, and workmanship. There has to be a platform where sellers can represent their variety of products and interested customers can select and purchase according to their choice. It helps to build a sense of authenticity and reliability that helps to create more demands for such products and expand the customer base. There have been trading shows, exhibitions and expo organized every year in India and abroad where a large variety of Indian handicrafts are showcased. A list of trending handicraft products that can make their presence in Expo markets in 2022 are given as below:
Metal Art Ware
Craft items made from metals like gold, silver, bronze, iron, brass, and copper are widely acknowledged by customers around the world. The products include idols, utensils, jewelry, and decorative items. Metal wares are a very broad and popular segment of handicrafts with high demand in the global market. The main states that prepare metal wares are Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Wooden artefacts
Wooden wares are famous for their intricate designs and craftsmanship. The precision and design details are widely appreciated by customers. The woodwork cottage industry is mainly concentrated in Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.
Imitation Jewelry
It is a segment that attracts major exports in foreign countries and is liked by men and women to enhance their style statement. It uses simple raw materials like stones, wood, metal, glass, leather, etc., and makes beautifully designed bangles, necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and many more items.
Embroidered goods
Products made by thread and needle embroidery and crochet are quite popular for their unique design. There are different types of embroidered works that are used for home décor purposes. One of those is sisha or mirror work on clothing, door hangers, curtains, wrappings, etc. which enhances the look. Another popular form is phulkari which means making floral motifs on bright colors of fabric. It has some exclusive design and pattern that stands out. Another famous embroidery work is Kantha Stitch done by weavers of West Bengal. This is very compact in design and requires much time and effort to complete the finishing. Other types of textile work in this category are chikan, appliqué, and zardozi.
Hand Printed Textiles
This type of product has gained immense popularity both in domestic and international markets. Bandini art form used in Gujarat and Rajasthan represents a style full of colors. Kalamkari is one of the most beautiful textile printing on cotton and has been demanded all over the world. Patola and Patan from the state of Gujarat also make their prominence in the global market. The handloom sarees from Tripura have a very traditional touch which makes them exquisite.Â
Zari works
This is also a very intricately designed needlework using gold and silver threads. It is mainly used in silk sarees and lehengas as a decorative material to give the gorgeous look. It requires high workmanship and creativity. Garments and home decors with zari work have a great demand in many communities in India and overseas countries. Places like Surat, Agra, Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Varanasi are famous for zari works. One of the most famous sarees with jari work is the Banarasi saree which is an ideal attire for weddings and special occasions. It is a big hit among Indian celebrities and foreigners as well.
Shawls
It is one of the oldest crafts mainly originated in Kashmir and has passed its legacy further. The pashmina shawl of Kashmir is prepared from the wool obtained from a special type of goat found in the high altitude of the Himalayas. This shawl is famous worldwide for its quality and comfort. Shawl weaving is also a flourishing industry in Himachal Pradesh, which is famous for its Kullu shawl. These types of shawls are prepared from different types of wool.
Leatherworks
The craft of making products using leather was quite old. Hand painting and embossing on leather to make various products were first introduced in Bengal in the 1940s. From there leather work was spread to various parts of India and cobblers were trained to perform skillful works with leather. Tamil Nadu is the largest exporter of leather products. Researchers are finding new ways for preservation and refinement of leather which helps artisans to produce leather products with good quality and durability that attracts customers worldwide.
Handmade Home Decor Items
A large segment of handmade products belongs to the category that is considered for decoration purposes. These are exclusive items in terms of the raw material used, creative designs, and workmanship. Products made through bamboo weaving and cane craft especially in the northeastern part of India have wonderful design and portability. The coir products from Kerala are famous and exported worldwide. The blue pottery of Rajasthan, which had its origin in Delhi, has improved a lot through innovations. The potteries are made with powdered stone and glass, Multani mitti, borax, etc., and colored with fascinating blue dyes. These are exclusive showpieces that can be used on special occasions. Beautiful decorative items made with seashells represent unique craftsmanship. The shells are handpicked from shore and then craft into fascinating designs to make decorative boxes, photo frames, mirrors, jewelry, and door hangers. If we talk about traditional paintings, Madhubani painting is an incredible form of art that uses natural colors obtained from spices, indigo, flower extracts, and many other raw items. It depicts Indian culture and traditions exclusively.Â
