Online shopping sustains Himachal handicrafts

By: Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: Efforts to sustain the states handloom sector has found support in the response the hand made products are getting from online shoppers, something which the state corporation forayed into only six months back.

There was always a demand for Himachali handicrafts but availability was limited to sales outlets located with the state and some of them scattered across the country’s major cities, said a spokesman of HP Handicraft and Handloom Corporation.

Starting online marketing in January 2010 that is linked to a payment gateway has increased the market reach globally and the corporation was now receiving orders from across the globe, he added.

Among the items popular handicrafts bought by online shoppers the traditional Himachali caps, woolen shawls, Kangra paintings, Chamba Rumals, Chamba chappals, jewellery, Kangra painting and traditional Jewelery are much sort out by online shoppers, he said.

Sales have handicraft products from all the corporation outlets, which include e-shopping has increased from Rs 2.37 crore to Rs 4.05 crore said the spokesman.

Started in 1974 the handloom corporation is mandated with reviving of extinct crafts, the corporation is assisting in design development, skill generation, pre-loom, loom and post loom facilities to weavers and other artisans, production in workshops, marketing of handloom and handicrafts items through a chain of the emporia, exhibitions and expositions.

With active assistance from the central governments ministry of textiles the corporation is assisting Kullu handloom cluster with a financial outlay of Rs 2 crores that will benefit 5000 weavers, Gohar handloom cluster in Mandi district with financial outlay of Rs 44.20 lakhs for the benefit of 350 weavers and a handloom cluster in Reckong Peo – Kinnaur having a financial outlay of Rs 55.15 lacs for the benefit of 364 weavers.

Besides the corporations 32 sale outlets, of which 15 are within the state, bulk orders from paramilitary forces, railways and air force through Association of Corporations & Apex Societies of Handlooms (ACASH) and e-shopping is helping handicraft manufactures to sustain their livelihoods in the face of stiff competition from machine manufactured goods.

(File Photo)