EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Handicrafts, an industry that has been adding value to the Indian economy and its GDP for years, is also a craft used to create products that are produced either completely by hand or with the help of tools. In India, handicrafts have great potential for employment generation and income generation, being one of the most attractive things about the country present in various shapes made from different materials.
The industry holds the key for sustaining not only the millions of artisans already existing, spread over length, and breadth of the country, but also for the increasingly large number of new entrants in the crafts activity. The spirit of handicrafts is the raw material used for crafts is easily available in India. Craftsmen and artisans can produce products in unlimited numbers without any negative impact on sustainability.
SHOWCASING CULTURE AND EMPLOYMENT
It is of no doubt that the Indian handicraft industry’s contribution to rural employment, and in the Indian economy has been substantial. Indian handicraft items ranging from wooden stone, metal, glass, bamboo, cane, clay, terracotta ceramics, and textiles have a huge demand and each of them belongs to different parts of the country.
Just like the most popular items including brassware, pen holder, vases, candles, and Christmas items, ceramic pots, carpets, and other products of paper which are from various states of India such as Manipur, Tripura, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kashmir, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and east state which offers a wide range of handicrafts, with its own identity.
The Indian handicrafts industry is a highly labor intensive, cottage based and decentralized industry. The industry is spread all over the country mainly in rural and urban areas. Most of the manufacturing units are located in rural and small towns, and there is huge market potential in all Indian cities and abroad. The handicraft industry is a major source of income for rural communities employing over six million artisans including a large number of women and people belonging to the weaker sections of the society.
Though the Indian Handicraft industry is considered a cottage industry, but it has evolved as one of the major revenue generators over the years. There has been consistent growth of 15% over a few years and the industry has evolved as one of the major contributors for export and foreign revenue generation.
The Handicraft sector is highly creative and produces a large variety of crafts products. This industry is a localized segment of the domestic and international market. In India, the production of craft products is done on both large and small scales. Because of low capital investment people can start their businesses on a small scale. Through this flexibility, demand and supply can be managed.
DEMAND AND TECHNOLOGY
When it comes to demand, there is a huge demand for Indian handicraft products in both the national and international markets. For the demand and quality supply of the Indian handicraft industry to meet at one point, there is a need to have greater technological support and innovativeness with the uniqueness in the industry.
MARBLE, WOOD AND COPPER HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY
Marble Statues and Decorative Items: In India, marble is one of the best elements for manufacturing handicraft products. The product is used to decorate a wide range of things like marble temples, marble statues, marble decorative, and numerous other marble handicraft items that are highly demanded in India and around the world.
Wooden Handicraft Items: Something that many take as souvenirs from India is the famous wooden handicraft items. Formed with the art of transforming simple woods into a beautiful and elegant piece of crafts, numerous wooden handicraft products like wooden decorative items, wooden kitchen utensils, wooden religious products, and various others are manufactured in India.
Copper Festival Decorative: Something that has been used in India for decades for its purifying value, Copper is one of the key ingredients that are used to manufacture pooja (prayer) handicraft items like Diya, statues, and other decorative products. It is also used for manufacturing copper utensils.
RESIN AND METAL PRODUCTS IN HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY
Resin Decorative: What are resins? This handicraft industry is based on resins, a type of sticky flammable organic substance that is, through various difficult processes like melting, molding, cutting, shaping and numerous others converted into a beautiful and elegant piece of craft.
White Metal Handicraft Products: Metalworks industry has been a profitable handicraft industry, metal is a silver alloy that gives an antique touch to handicraft products. It is a tin-based alloy that is used for manufacturing white metal decorative, white metals statues, and numerous other white metal products.
TEXTILE AND CLOTHES HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY
Calligraphy: A visual art form that is mostly related to writing, Calligraphy is a process of designing letters or alphabets using broad tip brushes or instruments which is a rare profession and an exclusive art form found in India.
Crochet: A very delicate and nice form of art done in various forms is a technique of creating fabric from threads, yarns, and other materials. The process of crocket makes the output or the process the fabric obtains is thick and used for making clothes.