Artisans In Independent India

We and Our Artisans

ExclusiveLane was started in 2012, to support the traditional Handicrafts and the craftsmen of India. We have currently 100+ artisans working with us to deliver you the essence of Indian culture in the form of various Handicraft items. They diligently put their efforts in making spectacular and ever so remarkable quality products.  Today, let’s meet some of Our wonderful, hardworking and talented artisans who have a major role in delivering you such amazing products:

Rehman Sahib  - Atiqur Rahman Sahib’s family has been been working in woodcraft industry for many years. We have been working with him for many years. His products have been some of the best sellers on our platform, wooden Spice box being one of them. His USP is the quality and durability of his wooden items. (Check out his story here.)

Singh Sahib - He has been working with us for more than 3 years now. He produces wooden and Bamboo items. Wind Chimes are his best selling products. The beautiful depiction of natural surroundings in his products is something customers admire the most. (Check out his story here. )

Taslim Sahib - Mohd. Taslim Sahib is a wood worker from Uttar Pradesh. His confident outlook towards his craft makes him a valuable artisan. He is the man behind our collection “The Doorway To Heaven”. His products have an old-world charm that is hard to ignore. (Know more about him and his craft here.)

Zaid Sahib - Zaid Sahib and his co-workers are metal craft artisan. His team produces handicrafts ranging from Table Top, Lanterns, and hangings to wall mirrors and planters.  Products are made in steel, cast iron and aluminium. He is behind our aluminium wall hooks collection. (Click here to know more.)

There are many more highly skilled craftsmen like them, who are working with us and providing you with the best quality Handicrafts at affordable price. This independence day, let’s appreciate and promote their talent and hard work. Afterall, they are sustaining our cultural heritage by making sustainable products. Just a little support is needed from our side😄.

This is 2022, the 75th year of India’s Independence! 15th August marks the struggle of our freedom fighters during the struggle against the British. This year, we are celebrating the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” too! Being one of the most ancient civilizations, We have come a long way. We have seen Umpteen invasions, the amalgamation of diverse cultures, and the hope for a better future. After getting independence, We were sincere enough to work for the betterment of our nation. And now, We are planning ahead to become a global superpower. Perfect!

Wait.

 Let’s have a look at it from another perspective. We are very interested in movies based on historical fiction, and watching all the battles fought between the kings is what we love the most. Everyone enjoys patriotic movies and songs. We learn about our history through these mediums of communication. Yes, it’s thrilling and exciting.

But we tend to miss something amid this access to information. We subtly ignore the development of our Indian heritage, heritage in terms of artistry and craftsmanship. We may have a stunning metallic idol in our house as a showpiece, but we don’t know that it represents the generations of experience of artisans and their ancestors in that metal craft. These artisans have been instrumental in our development too. Battles may have won the thrones, but artistry has revolutionized our whole cultural setup.

So this Independence day, let’s appreciate these craftsmen, who have been singlehandedly safeguarding our forever charming handicrafts industry in this modernized world.

India’s Craftsmanship and People Behind It

India’s craftsmanship is as old as its civilization. Such a long history is itself a testament to its richness and aesthetics. Ancient India was advanced and aspirational. From Ancient Cave paintings of Madhya Pradesh, Copper and Bronze work of the Indus Civilization, and Pan-India stone masonry to our beautiful Madhubani and Warli Paintings, and Walnut wood carving of Kashmir, we have a plethora of crafts to look up to. And the people behind these beautiful art pieces are our Artisans. They have been the custodian of India's heritage and Craft industry for generations. the traditional craftsmen depict the essence of our ancient civilization in their designs and pieces.

 It wouldn’t be wrong to say that they have maintained the heritage of this majestic civilization. Moreover, The traditional craft industry is one of the biggest generators of employment in India, with more than 200 million livelihoods directly or indirectly attached to it.  This implies the importance of craftsmen and the traditional craft industry in our nation.

Indian Craftsmen before and During British Era

Considering the long history of India, we can say that the artistry must have been at an excellent level. Metal and ivory work reached its peak during the Gupta period. Many art forms were adopted from nearby cultures, like Persia. The four categories of handicrafts at that time included articles of daily use, articles for sale, merchants paying the artisans to make handicrafts for them, and the last one being luxury Handicrafts produced under the orders of the Kings. This shows the well-established culture of Handicrafts in India.

Artisans under colonial rule faced many challenges to sustain their livelihood. The kings and noblemen, who were the major market of such goods, were removed by the Britishers. The prices of the products were also made much lower for the elite british people to buy. This drastically affected the artisans’ business and the profit coming out of it.

….after Independence

Independence saw changes in the lookout for the Handicraft industry. We again realized the importance of the goldmine of Heritage that we possess. Some steps were taken to uplift the industry, but, those weren’t enough.

Sadly, today we have almost lost out on our rich cultural legacy. The demand for traditional art and crafts has reduced a lot in recent years. Turning down the focus on once a major employer industry of India is hard to grasp. The availability of cheap alternatives has made it hard for the artisans to sustain their business. 

It high time that we need to start taking steps to empower our handicrafts industry. At world stage we have an unbeatable standing in terms of Handicrafts variety and quality. We are, however, lacking in providing the much needed platform and opportunities for them.