Is
there hope for the rediscovery of this centuries-old craft due to a new wave of
craft ardour among young adults? How vital is it to keep your craft traditions
alive?
The Indian handicrafts sector is a
scattered business that exists in both rural and urban areas across the
country. Indian artists create one-of-a-kind pieces in a wide array of designs,
styles, hues, and sizes. Accented wood is quite popular in India. The endurance
of these handicrafts is well renowned around the world.
India’s
most famous and well-known handicrafts and wooden carvings:
Along with Jodhpur and Mysore, Saharanpur
is one of the most renowned areas for woodwork carvings.
The largest wooden furniture agglomeration
in India is at Saharanpur. It has over 5000 small and medium-sized timber craft
units, employing over 50000 people. It is also India’s leading exporter of
wooden crafts.
Saharanpur has a flourishing furniture
manufacturing industry and is an ideal buying location for traders and
exporters. About 100 large and small showrooms of wooden crafts and furniture offer
a wide selection of products as well as a design gallery.
The wood carving industry has deep roots in
Saharanpur and family-owned small units have coexisted with bigger and
organised units. There are some 10,000 micro units in the district, and about
100 organised factories, which largely cater to the export market.
The local factories generally receive
supplies of timber needed to support the local cottage wood carving industry
from the northern hill forest regions. With the introduction of modern communication
network, easy and cheaper availability of raw materials and labour, Saharanpur
developed as one of the major town in the northern India with an elaborate
industrial infrastructure
Apart from direct export consignments, the
finished products make their way to foreign shores through agents and
third-party exporters as well. Earlier, the artisans of Saharanpur primarily
produced products by hand and sold their products to the locals and to
visitors. Between 1960 and 1965, the industry started to become organised and
the manufacturers formed their association.
