Page 16 - Craftcil Feb 2024
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feature - 57th IHGF Delhi Fair - Spring 2024



            Brand IHGF is a robust support system for             Bringing together creativity, craftsmanship
            our exporters and buyers from world over              and commerce on a global scale

                                 This diverse trade platform is                       This event marks the
                                 an exclusive opportunity for                         culmination of collaborative
                                 buyers to explore a vast array                       endeavors, highlighting the
                                 of Indian handicrafts,                               collective strength of our
                                 spanning home, lifestyle,                            exhibitors. IHGF has
                                 fashion, furnishing and                              transformed into a crucial
                                 furniture. We take pride in                          support system for the growth
                                 showcasing eco friendly and                          of Indian handicraft exports,
                                                                  R K Verma           gaining acclaim from global
            Dr. Neeraj Khanna    heritage-backed products,
                                                                  Executive Director, EPCH
            Vice Chairman II, EPCH  alongside those that are                          buyers who actively seek
                                 creative, innovative and         sourcing opportunities from India.
            modernistic, emphasising the rich diversity of IHGF   Inspired designs in emerging trends are covering a lot
            Delhi Fair - a brand that has evolved into a robust   of ground at the Spring 2024 edition of the IHGF
            support system for Indian exporters and buyers        Delhi Fair. The neatly spread out displays offer a lot
            from around the globe. The 57th edition continues     of choice in new colours, materials, textures and
            this well-recognised journey, serving as a treasured  craftsmanship poised to reach shelves of stores across
            resource to source some of the finest handicrafts     the world. Our exhibitors are adaptable to both
            and gifts from every corner of India.                 volume and custom design-oriented orders, providing
            In preparation for the show, our exhibitors have      flexibility in sourcing decisions to meet the demands of
            dedicated their efforts to design development,        both traditional and modern buying patterns. The
            aligning their products with buyer preferences and    fair also serves as a platform for artisans contributing
            market trends.                                        to the rich tapestry of our nation's artistic heritage.


           and scaling-up of a wide variety of products. This significant  through active participation in the IHGF Delhi Fair. “Our
           contribution spans all segments of the industry, including various  commitment to quality is unwavering, and we've proudly held
           micro sub-segments, making notable contributions to the export  Vriksh certification, ensuring that the wood we utilize meets
           basket and forex earnings.                             stringent standards,” he shared. Another exhibitor  from Mumbai
                                                                  was a social enterprise with a unique approach involving
               The contemporary market is driven by a quest for uniqueness,
                                                                  repurposing pre-loved saris into a range of products, from clothing
           novelty, and the unusual. Manufacturers in India are responding to
                                                                  to jewellery and postcards. Initially focusing on curating products
           this demand by offering products that cater to both mass-market
                                                                  in India, their success in Western markets prompted expansion.
           requisites and premium, exclusive selections. Manufacturers in
                                                                  This participation marked their debut at the fair, showcasing their
           India endowed with a caliber to blend traditional and cultural
                                                                  dedication to innovation and eco-conscious practices.
           elements with contemporary twists, have played a constructive
           and significant role to portray the forte of the industry in several  Among the products that stood out exclusively were
           markets in the world. They characterize living spaces and enhance  collections in katran, musa (a bio-leather), and cantann by a Jaipur-
           the style of fashion accessories across more than 90 countries  based exporter of paper and leather goods. Their representative

           globally through creation of exclusive offerings presented in  spoke of their active participation in recycling initiatives,
           attractive propositions, variety, value, price and service.  repurposing waste from the leather industry. “At trade fairs, we
                                                                  fervently advocate for sustainability, showcasing our initiatives
               An exporter from Mumbai, who has dedicated himself to
                                                                  and products as inspiration for others to embrace environmentally
           crafting puzzles and games from wood for 24 years, calls this
                                                                  responsible practices,” he shared.  Another exhibitor from Jaipur
           passion the fuel for his business endeavor that has expanded

            16  CRAFTCIL • February 2024
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