Made In India With Love, India’s handicrafts have long been admired and revered around the world. They have mesmerized everyone. Almost every city has something unique to offer. For the creation of art and craft articles, each state has its own craftsmen techniques. The feel and vibes of the city are weaved and molded to these handicrafts that keep that place significant to all those who visit it. India’s art practices have withstood the test of time and many global invasions, and they continue to thrive today. Since Indian crafts are so ancient, the fact that they are still being maintained today is indisputable evidence of their value and importance. It is largely due to the Indian handicraftsmen’s willingness to embrace and adopt new thinking. India is a total artisan’s muse. It has a wealthy cultural history that is mirrored in the depth and complexity of its handicrafts.
The World of Woodwork
Swords, dolls, utensils, embellished objects, ornaments, and a plethora of enticing household items such as lampshades, candle stands, vermilion boxes, jewelry cases, bangle holders, and so on are just a few of the wooden artifacts made in various parts of India and found in almost every Indian home. These handicrafts are famous due to their exotic designs, which represent our artisans’ ingenious artistic creativity.
Wood Crafting the spans of India
Kashmir has a lot of walnut trees, so carving on this rich, medium–soft, delicately toned wood is a specialty of the region. Tabletops, cigarette, and cigar cases, pipe stands, accessories caskets, floor lamps, cloth containers, and other items are adorned with intricate and perfect floral patterns that are delicately carved. Some of the other best ornamental carvings on balconies in old homes can be found in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. South India, which is blessed with rich forests and wildlife admires woodwork. Rosewood and sandalwood are the most common woods used. Cutlery, dainty boxes, and paper knives are made from red sandalwood from Andhra Pradesh in a range of designs.
Swadesi Leathercraft
If there is something next to the amazing woodwork that India is known for is the leathercraft tradition. The history of leathercraft can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilization. In ancient times, artisans were skilled not only in the creation of clothing and boots, but also in the creation of leather hats, bags, saddles, shields, and other objects. India’s leather goods are among the best-selling in the world. India’s leather crafts are a fine blend of style and tradition. From ‘Kolhapuri Chappal’ to ‘Santiniketan leather goods’ everything is an amalgamation of unique designs and a harmonious history.
Weaving through horizons
India also manufactures leather goods with images and drawings from mythologies and epics. These items are a reflection of India’s culture and ethnicity. The gold and silver embroidery work is an example of the artisans’ craftsmanship and abilities.
The leather art of Madhya Pradesh is very original and inimitable. Leather shoes, belts, and garments are manufactured. Kolhapuri chappals, a type of leather footwear made in Maharashtra, are also well-known. Painter leatherwork is also common in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore and Gwalior. This region’s embroidered painted leathercraft and leather sculptures are well-known in India. West Bengal has its own style of painted leatherwork, known as Shantiniketan embossed leatherwork.
Embroidery
While talking about handicrafts, how can one miss the variety of embroideries in India (Made In India With Love) that decorate the Indian streets on a daily basis. India has come a long way in terms of embroidery. As fashion patterns evolved, Indian Embroidery adapted to the modern environment while remaining graceful and sophisticated. Although each embroidery technique has its own unique characteristics, one thing is certain: they all make a serious fashion statement.
From Kashmir to Kanyakumari
Especially in the winter, Kashmiri embroidery is a common option among women. Pashmina shawls are well-known, and Kashmiri suits are famous for their vibrancy and comfort, as well as their distinct appearance. You can’t go wrong with Kashmiri embroidery when paired with embroidered juttis and oxidized silver jewelry. Phulkari from Punjab has all our hearts. Noor Jahan, Jahangir’s wife initiated Chikankari. Originated in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It all started with white embroidery on a white canvas, but now it comes in every color imaginable.
Banjara’s nomadic tribes did not confine themselves to a single specific region, allowing this type of embroidery to spread through many regions and allow for differences in technique and architecture. Gota embroidery was originally made with gold and silver wires of different lengths woven in a satin or twill weave and was used with kinari work. Today embroidery is made by the Toda tribe, who live in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills. Toda embroidery portrays motifs of nature and/or heavenly bodies in a geometrical pattern, traditionally using black and red woolen threads on a coarse white fabric.
Get to know something one-of-a-kind this handcraft season!
So, the vast variety of handicrafts produced in India reflects India’s rich cultural heritage and centuries of evolutionary history. Handicrafts are a reflection of the national origin of those who make them. The unique feature of all the above-mentioned crafts is that they were handcrafted. Hand-etched, hand-carved, hand-drawn, and hand-molded by masters who worked for years, if not their entire lives, to create masterpieces. Handcrafted items have a long lifespan, a rich appearance, and are one-of-a-kind. Hence, every piece of art has a tale to tell and a tradition, and you can experience history when touching handcrafted art while decorating your home.
