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Handicrafts 
Handicraft sector in Bangladesh cannot be traced back to any particular point of time. Rooted deeply in the long heritage of the land, it grew gradually over centuries representing the rich, unique traditions of the soil, its people and their distinctive culture. The nourishing factors that helped the sector flourish are love of the artisans for their craft, coupled with their untiring effort to survive against odds. Of late, however facilitating services offered by the public and various private agencies to organize and strengthen the sector have paved the way for better and efficient performance of the sector. This has definitely resulted in an integrated and structured approach toward production and marketing and today the handicraft industry of Bangladesh look much well organized then it was a decade back. However, there is no denying the fact that despite considerable advancement, potential of the sector still appear largely unexplored and a bulk of the resources untapped. Innovative adaptation is yet to reach a satisfactory level. Beside the supply side constraints, dearth of technology and inadequate export marketing drive continue to be the main impediments for speedy growth of the industry. Large variety of products feature in the handicraft industry, the numbers of products that dominate in the export sector are not many. These are Shari (Silk, silk-cotton mixed, cotton, jute-cotton mixed, Jamdani, others), Three piece, Punjabi, Fotua, Kids item, Lungi, Gamsa, Towel, Nokshi kanta, Bed cover, Pillow case, Orna, Cotton made pebble, Jute products (College Bag, Shopping bag, Ladies bag, Sandal, Show piece, Sika, Rope, etc), Feather goods, Hand quilting/embroidery, Pottery, Cane Basketry etc. Others less conspicuous include products made out of bamboo, wood, straw, grass, textile wall hangings and various metals. The important thing about this segment of handicraft sector is that these products are focused to international markets, based on importers specifications. Hand loom weaving is mainly done in areas which are traditionally specialized in the crafts and as such the manufacturing base is not very wide spread. As regards block, screen printed and vegetable dyed craft etc. the existing supply has its limit. Find Handicrafts Exporters in Bangladesh, Handicrafts Exporters in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Comilla.
Story behind the Bangladesh Handicrafts Following a bloody war in 1971, a country Bangladesh by name was born. In Handicrafts or Cottage industry, this country has a thousand years history. During the time of Mughal dynasty in the Indo-Pak sub-continent, this saw a mentionable growth. In that time for the recreations of the kings and emperors, from the remote areas of the sub-continent, low-class artists used to make different types of handicrafts and present the kings. Many of them supported their families selling them in the market. Since 1973 after independence, exports of handicrafts were begun on personal and small basis. For a nation the communal handicrafts is its heart and soul. Every nation has its own communal handicrafts. In this matter through the cottage industry, the history, tradition and the current stream of the development of a country and nation are reflected. And amidst the flow of this historical cottage industry, a silent revolution to preach and extend of own self-identity all over the world has happened. These commodities are also entering into the foreign market slowly. Because of the efforts of the initiators and the interests of the foreign buyers, now handicrafts worth thousands of Dollars are being exported from Bangladesh each year. Without any help of machines, with bare hands, where a man is able to show his creativity and skill is called handicraft. In the nook and corner of Bangladesh, much such small and large artistry are scattered. In the present world the demands and appreciations for different handicrafts are increasing. The taste of man has been changed and the revival of the luxury mentality is the main reason. As a part of local tradition, its veneration is expanding. It is worth mentioning that handicraft means small units of producing different commodities by bare hands. Generally the owner of the house himself or with the help of the other members of the family or salaried employees up to the number of ten produces such commodities with simple machines or without any equipment. This industry has played an important role in the Bengal-economy of the early and middle age. Then the weaving, works on metals, jewelry especially of the silver-ornaments, wood-cane and bamboo works, pottery of earth and earthen pots were famous. Afterwards Jute and leather have been used as the chief raw-material. In the commodities of handicrafts of Bangladesh there exist a long tradition, beauty and dexterity. We know from the history, the maslin cloth (unbelievably finest) of the Ganges peninsula had reached up to the Roman and Greek empires. Handicrafts are used in different works in and outside the house. It is durable and friendly to the environments. With the touch of the artisans they become more seeable. Many products of the cottage industry and obsolete commodities belong to the handicraft. So if this industry is developed, the export market would also be expanded. It is playing a vital role in creating employments and as the forerunner and connecting industry in some of the economic sectors. For the reason of the endeavor of some entrepreneur from Bangladesh and the interests of the foreigners, each year handicraft-commodities for thousands of dollars are being exported. Amongst them are handicraft-commodities of various types like many luxury items made from Jute, Carpet, Cane and Bamboo Baskets of various sizes, Jute-bags, embroidered Quilts, Door-mats etc. Side by side there are Terracotta, Bird’s nest, Candle light, Leather ornament box, Coin box of leather, Belts etc. Cane and Bamboo products belong to the very old handicrafts of Bangladesh. Once upon a time there was a separate community for making domestic articles out of Bamboo and Cane. As per the information from the Bangladesh handicraft-makers and exporters’ association, at present various commodities of the cottage industry including carpets, baskets of various sizes, Jute bags and Door-mat are being exported at large scale. Besides, Terracotta, Candle light, embroidered Quilts, Bird-nests, various items of Bamboo and Cane, Leather Coin boxes, Coin box of leather; Belts like diverse items are being exported because of the cravings and interests of the foreigners. These handicrafts are gathered from the different parts of the country and exported to America, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Belgium, France, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands and other countries of the world. Hizol Handicrafts located in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, a sister concern of the Eram group is a mention worthy export establishment for handicraft products. The commodities are chosen and collected from the remote areas of the country which are produced through environment-friendly procedure and marketed with high quality control under own management of the firm. The concern, after fulfilling the domestic demands, is also exporting abroad. For the neglected and the tribal people related to this industry that is economically and socially disregarded, Hizol handicrafts has undertaken a program to uphold their socio-economic situations. One of them is to patronize systematically the traditional Bangladeshi handicrafts and thus efforts have been made to market them internationally. It is hoped that if this program is materialized, the life-standard of the related people with this industry would be more heightened. Following are the detail description of the interesting handicrafts-commodities of this concern: Although the handicrafts of this country are especially regional, the Bamboo-industry is spread all over. The Bamboo is basically a type of special and long grass. It is grown everywhere in Bangladesh. So Bamboo-industry is expanded all over the country. Moreover, it is cheap and easily available. So the products made of it have more acceptances. In all the high and low-income families of Bangladesh, the use of Bamboo-products is seen. Comparing to the urban areas, both the requirements and the uses of Bamboo-products are more frequent in the villages. Apart from making a variety of daily appliances with Bamboo, various other luxury goods are also produced. Beyond the daily uses, now the artisans make different luxury goods with Bamboo. They are: Book-shelve, Flower Vass, Wall mat, Cane-sit, Penholder, Toys, Tray, various spoons and Cooking tool, different Show pieces etc. Though at the beginning appreciations were less, now the demands are increased. The middle and the high class people of the towns with taste are the chief buyers of these commodities. Beyond the local markets these luxury goods have taken their own places abroad. Handicrafts Products in Bangladesh: Handicraft sector in Bangladesh cannot be traced back to any particular point of time. Rooted deeply in the long heritage of the land, it has grown gradually over centuries representing the rich, unique traditions of the soil, its people and their distinctive culture. The nourishing factors that helped the sector to flourish are love of the artisans for their crafts, coupled with their untiring effort to survive against odds. Of late, however facilitating services offered by the public and various private agencies to organize and strengthen the sector have paved the way for better and efficient performance of the sector. This has definitely resulted in an integrated and structured approach toward production and marketing and today the handicraft industry of Bangladesh looks much well organized then it was a decade back. However, there is no denying the fact that despite considerable advancement, potentials of the sector still appear largely unexplored and a bulk of the resources untapped. Innovative adaptation is yet to reach a satisfactory level. Beside the existence of the anxious constraints, dearth of technology and inadequate export marketing drive continuously appeared to be the main impediment for the speedy growth of the industry. Large variety of products feature in the handicraft industry, the numbers of products that dominate in the export sector are not many. These are Shari (Silk, silk-cotton mixed, cotton, jute-cotton mixed, Jamdani and others), Three pieces, Punjabi, Fotua, Kids’ items, Lungi, Gamsa (simple cotton-towel), Towel, embroidered Quilts, Bed cover, Pillow case, Orna (Ladies neck and breast cover), Cotton made pebble, Jute products (School/College Bag, Shopping bag, Ladies bag, Sandal, Show pieces, Sika (hanging support for preserving foods), Rope, Feather goods, Hand quilting/embroidery, Pottery, Cane Basketry etc. Others less conspicuous include products made out of bamboo, wood, straw, grass, textile wall hangings and various metals. The important thing about this segment of handicraft sector is that these products are focused to international markets, based on importers specifications. Hand loom weaving is mainly done in areas which are traditionally specialized in the crafts and as such the manufacturing base is not very wide spread. As regards block, screen printed and vegetable dyed craft etc. the existing supply has its limit. |
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