It is an age-old tradition that we’ve been consciously or unconsciously following from one generation to another – we collect souvenirs from places we often visit on a holiday. Be it for a bracelet or a keychain made out of a seashell with our name or initials engraved on it, or be it for a fancy bamboo straw hat, handicrafts of India always have a special place in our homes and our hearts. This article would talk about how branding has changed the handicrafts game in India.
Birthplace of Art & Artisans
India has always been at the epicenter of infinite forms of art and artists who have given their own creative twist to the craft. These artisans are the reason why our handicraft sector as an economic segment in India has been flourishing with a huge number of handicraft exports. Here are some phenomenal numbers proving how pivotal the handicrafts exports in various segments have been in our country’s growth.
A shift in the Shopping Window
Now that the pandemic has been playing spoilsport for quite some time with the travel & tourism sector, the handicraft businesses that were offline have been taking a hit. Without tourists from abroad or within the country flocking in great numbers, these artisans have taken the ‘Online’ route to sell their art and they have been making quite a fortune ever since.
Fun Fact: The Indian handicrafts industry is fragmented with 7 million+ regional artisans and 67,000+ exporters/export houses promoting regional art and craftsmanship in the domestic and global markets.
The recent impact of the pandemic has persuaded the government to increase the incentive rates from 5% to 7% for handicraft items under the Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS). This thoughtful step will help the businesses recover from the loss that was incurred due to the pandemic. Also, this will lead to competitive pricing and boost the overall handicrafts export. ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ have given the necessary boost for the local businesses, especially artisans in a huge way.
So, when we talk about branding the art of these artisans, many artists-turned-businessmen, art aficionados and entrepreneurs have taken this cause upon themselves to ensure that the art of these hardworking artisans sees the light of the day. Some of the most famous handicraft brands such as Fabindia, The Indian Ethnic Co., Okhai, Tjori, and many more like these have made a turnover worth crores, but there’s also an upsurge of fresh new brands online that have created quite a buzz such as Craftsvilla, Hands of India, iTokri, Jaypore, Brass Tacks, Kashmir Box, Hastavem, Exclusive Lane, Ecokaari, to name a few.
Such brands have indeed taken the handicrafts sector to great heights and given the artisans the due respect, recognition and reward that they truly deserved. Sui Dhaaga, as a movie, to some extent, did its best to showcase the true struggle that artisans had to go through to finally accomplish their rags-to-riches odyssey.
At 3 Dots Design Pvt. Ltd., it is our prime responsibility to encourage art and artists to the best of their abilities. When it comes to advertising, we are one of the best creative ad agencies in Pune and our work is the testimony to the kind of art we craft. Our work across print, digital and outdoor platforms speak for ourselves and that’s what we intend to continue – crafting creative and continuous communications that stand the test of time and stand out from the rest. If you wish to see more of who we are, what we do and how we do it, feel free to visit our website www.3dotsdesign.in or drop a mail at contact@3dotsdesign.in