P J Aranador, a young Phillipine designer who has made it to the international scene, is working with 25 Indian export houses to design contemporary lifestyle handicrafts for homes around the world. Over 1000 Aranador-designed objects including artmetal ware, handprinted textiles and scarves, embroidered and crochetted goods and imitation jewellery, will be on display at the `Indian handicrafts and gifts fair, autumn 2000` opening at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Friday. Aranador who has become one of the longest featured designers and consultants for the Centre for International Expositions and Missions(CITEM) has been roped in by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts(EPCH) to work with the Indian handicraft and gift exporters. India`s export of handicrafts in 1999-2000 was Rs 5923.60 crore. Though exports have been growing steadily for the last several years, India`s share in the world imports is very small. ``India`s one of the important suppliers of handicrafts to the world market. Although exports of handicrafts appear to be sizeable, India`s share in the world imports is very small. Despite the existence of production base and a large number of craftsmen, India has not been able to encash existing opportunities``, an expert paper brought out by EPCH has said. “What is the problem after all? what do Indian handicraft houses need for a breakthrough in the world market? Consumer perspective is changing. Ethnicity alone will not sell. You need to have a fusion of look, technique and colours. You can have Indian glass techniques but western designs,” Arnador said in an interview with UNI.
Bureau Report