Mumbai : 11 April, 2023

As a part of Government’s initiatives to promote sale of authentic handloom and handicraft products, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai, has organized ‘Craft Bazaar’, a Handloom and Handicraft Exhibition in Mumbai.  The exhibition will celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage of handlooms and Handicrafts. The ‘craft bazaar’ was inaugurated today, by the Chief Guest Smt. Priyanka Priyadarshini, AVP (Marketing) and Business Development Brand Head, Navyasa.

Under the craft cluster initiative program, the institute created a marketing platform for artisans and weavers. In the craft bazaar, NIFT has invited artisans and weavers from different states of India. In the craft bazaar, artisans/weavers have participated from various clusters of India, such as, Bidri craft from Karnataka, Lokar (Sheep wool) craft from Bihar, Kolhapuri chappal and Leather products from Maharashtra, Banjara craft from Latur, Maharashtra, Chanderi weaves from Madhya Pradesh, Gond Tribal painting from Madhya Pradesh, Hastkargha- Shibori from Delhi, United artisans of Kutch, Bhujodi handloom from Gujarat, Solapur Wall hanging from Maharashtra, Paithani weaves from Aurangabad Maharashtra, Himroo craft from Aurangabad Maharashtra, Chitrakathi Painting from Maharashtra, Applique from Gujarat, Terracotta from Maharashtra, Bhujodi craft from Bhuj, Gujarat, Hupari Silver jewellery from Maharashtra, Leather puppet craft from Andhra Pradesh, Glass roots from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and Special Hands of Kashmir: Sozni from Kashmir.

While inaugurating the exhibition, Priyanka Priyadarshini encouraged the craftsmen to do proper costing and align their product range as per market demand. She also gave her valuable guidance to NIFT students to support the artisans, giving the design input, brand strategy, product costing, and marketing their product in wholesale and retail. He appealed to students to help the artisans in using social media to promote their products and to inform them about government subsidies and benefits.

Prof. (Dr.) Pawan Godiawala, Director, NIFT Mumbai said that NIFT focuses on providing its students with an immersive interaction with India's handicraft and handloom heritage, offering a unique balance between traditional values and contemporary thought processes, emphasizing innovation and creativity. He mentioned that the Craft Cluster Initiative of NIFT has provided the students with continuous exposure to Indian culture and traditional handloom and handicraft clusters, thus providing an opportunity for creative innovation and experimentation at the grass root level. Through this craft exposure, NIFT students have endeavoured to be 'Young Change Agents,' utilizing the skills of the handloom and handicraft sectors to develop niche contemporary products. Such exposure and interactions have provided a stronger rural connection and a greater understanding and appreciation of Indian culture and aesthetics to the young design professionals, he said.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is participating in the Event. Its core objective is to focus on the socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by marketing the development of tribal products such as metal crafts, tribal textiles, pottery, tribal paintings, and pottery.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Govt. of India is also participating in the craft Bazaar to promote the sale and marketing of khadi and products of village industries and handicrafts. 

NIFT students are also participating in the exhibition and have put up their stalls of handmade, sustainable products: 'NIFT ke Pitaarese.' The booth includes Handcrafted products made by crochet, knitting macrame, Handmade Jewellery, Crochet tops, etc., for sale.

The Handicrafts Sector plays a significant & important role in the country's economy. It employs a vast segment of craftspeople in rural & semi-urban areas and generates substantial foreign exchange for the country while preserving its cultural heritage. NIFT has appealed to art lovers to pay a visit to the exhibition and encourage traditional handloom and handicrafts of the country. The exhibition is being held at Kishanchand Valecha Hall, Juhu, till tomorrow.

 

DJM /S.Tupe/Radhika/Preeti

 

 

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