Buy Handicrafts To Preserve The Arts Of India

India offers a rich tradition of handicrafts and each region specializes in different art forms. The handicrafts are made by master artisans at affordable prices and each purchase directly contributes to the preservation of the beautiful art forms of India.

Art is the pride and strength of India, but these traditions will go extinct if they are not supported and preserved. India has some of the most intricate handicraft traditions and each artisan community comes from a long lineage of master artisans who have handed down these traditions to the next generation. Today, however, many of these communities do not want their children to even learn their craft, as there is no scope for steady income from practicing the craft. Further, the Indian market is now flooded with mass-produced items from China that are much cheaper than items made by hand. Many of the designs of traditional Indian handloom textiles, like Ikat for example, are replicated in factories and are available for a very cheap price. The weaving communities cannot compete at this level, and so they rely on the support of a knowledgeable consumer base who values their traditions and the high quality of their handmade products. There are many governmental and non-profit institutions in India who are working diligently to preserve the art and culture of India. They promote artisans throughout India through exhibitions and work with them to improve their marketing capacity, keeping in mind the eco-friendly and traditional methods of handicrafts production. Such programs allow the artisan communities to market their products directly to the retail customers in India and pass their traditions on to the next generation.

India's artisan communities create a wide variety of hand-crafted items, including hand-woven scarves, hand-embroidered bags and apparel, jewelry, handmade paper products, and home decorations to name a few. Each piece is made following ancient techniques that involve many steps. The artisans typically work from their homes or in workshops next to their homes, and the entire village is involved in some aspect of the handicraft production.

India has many weaving cooperatives and each region specializes in different types of weaves. Traditionally, most of these cooperatives made saris for women in India to wear. Today, the cooperatives make a wide range of fabrics and styles, including scarves, shawls, and yardage for clothing. But the weaving techniques remain the same as they have been for hundreds of years, and each item involves many steps of production: from dyeing of the yarn to setting the loom to the weaving and hand braiding the tassels. The entire community gets steady income from this production and each product is a reflection of the profound artistic knowledge and dedication that is inherent in these communities.