Asian Crafts
The Case of the Bamboo Craftsmanship in Bangladesh:
More than 30 percent of total population in Bangladesh is extremely poor.
Halving the existing poverty level as per the millennium development goals
of the UN by 2015 is the major challenge of the country. The question arises
as to how to eradicate extreme poverty quickly? Successful experience of the
East Asian countries reveals that creation of employment opportunities in
the non-farm industrial sector for the rural poor is instrumental to
eradicate poverty. Due to stagnant large and medium scales industrial sector
and sole dependence on agriculture sector for employment and income,
Bangladesh suffers from huge unemployment and disguised unemployment, which
has been further worsening due to high population growth rate. Since the
long past, rural informal income generating activities, such as traditional
bamboo craftsmanship, however, has created enormous employment and income
opportunities in the country especially for the rural poor and distress
women. Empirical studies though recognize the contribution of rural informal
activities to poverty alleviation, seldom focuses on who are the craftsmen,
how they produce and market their products. Using primary data collected
from more than 200 bamboo craftsmen from four districts in Bangladesh, this
study tries to examine the role of rural informal activities and
characterizes who are the craftsmen. The study finds that bamboo craftsmen
are mostly uneducated and inherited the skills and businesses from their
parents. The study also finds that all of the workers in the bamboo industry
are family members and nearly 50 percent of total workers in the bamboo
sector are female. Thus, the traditional bamboo sector contributes
enormously to the creation of employment opportunities for the rural women.
Finally, based on the opinions of the craftsmen, the study recommends some
suggestions for the development of the bamboo industry in Bangladesh.
The Jute Textiles Industry occupies an important place in the national
economy. It is one of the major industries in the eastern region,
particularly in West Bengal. It supports nearly 4 million farm families,
besides providing direct employment to about 2.6 lakh industrial workers and
livelihood to another 1.4 lakh persons in the tertiary sector and allied
activities. The production process in the Jute Industry goes through a
variety of activities, which include cultivation of raw jute, processing of
jute fibres, spinning, weaving, bleaching, dyeing, finishing and marketing
of both, the raw jute and its finished products. The Jute Industry is labour
intensive and as such its labour-output ratio is also high in spite of
various difficulties being faced by the industry. Capacity utilization of
the industry is around 75 per cent. These apart, the jute industry
contributes to the export earnings to the tune of nearly Rs. 1200 crores
annually.
There are 77 composite jute mills in India, of which 60 jute mills are
located in West Bengal, 3 each in Bihar and U.P., 7 in Andhra Pradesh and 1
each in Assam, Orissa, Tripura and Chattisgarh. Ownership- wise division is:
6 mills are under Government of India, 1 mill (Tripura) is under State
Government, 2 mills (Assam & New Central) are in the co-operative sector,
and 68 are in private sector.
Clothes are one of the most creative ways of expressing individuality,
lifestyle and culture. Every community, region and culture has its own
distinct way of dressing and clothing. India has a rich heritage of art and
crafts which is reflected in its textiles and fabrics. The art of weaving
and dying of fabrics was practiced in India from very ancient times. It was
apparently such an important part of life of the ancient times that many of
its techniques gave the name to philosophical and religious thought. For
example, the word Sutras, the ancient Buddhist scriptures, is said to have
been derived from the word Sut, meaning thread or to string together. Granth,
the name for a holy book as in the Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikhs, comes
from a textile term for knitting or weaving together.
From very ancient times, India was an export centre for clothes and fabrics.
Historical studies point out that the Harappan town of Lothal, dating back
to almost 2000 bc, is only 100 kms from Ahmedabad, where a number of dying
units similar to those used even today were exporting dyed cotton fabrics.
The magic of cotton
Cotton in particular was core to Indian textiles and has been cultivated
here since ancient times. Ancient travelers described cotton cultivation as
sheep growing on trees, for they only knew white wool, which was taken from
sheep. The centres known for very finely woven cotton were in Bengal,
Varanasi, Chanderi and in the towns of Uppada, Mangalagiri and Venkatagiri
of Andhra Pradesh.
The patterned finely woven cotton was known as Jamdani, a distinct style of
weaving, which is an Indian specialty.
Well, Indian textiles and cotton in particular is such a vast subject that
we can go on talking about it. In this issue lets look at one aspect Folk
Embroidery.
Creativity in folk embroidery
Folk embroidery in India was the best means by which women, especially in
rural India, expressed their lives, dreams and desires. Embroidery, which is
essentially meant to strengthen the fabric and to decorate it, was an
important part of the household tradition of different communities who
migrated to India and who added to the artistic heritage of the country.
Gujarat, which had an open land route connecting it to Central Asia, had a
large number of settlers from Central Asia. They settled in Kutch and
Saurashtra and retained heir traditions of embroidery, with the result that
a very rich range of embroidery can be found in these areas.
The women embroider clothes for their personal use, for their children and
even special items for the use of their men. The animal decorations with
embroidery are also part of the tradition.
During Diwali, light is eflected by the many mirrors that are embroidered.
Chain stitch motifs in embroidery are prepared with the use of an awl and is
known as Mochi Bharat.
The awl or ari as it is locally known is used for stitching leather and has
been found at Harappan sites and is possibly older than the needle.
The thread is fed from below and is pulled up with an awl and comes up like
a loop. The second loop is pilled forward. This creates the effect of a
chain stitch, which gives strong linear patterns. Mochi Bharat of Kutch was
used for making clothes for the court.
Rajasthan also had a tradition of ari bharat where exquisitely patterned
knuckle pads were embroidered for the Rajput warriors often; miniatures were
recreated on some of them through embroidery. It is said that Marco Polo,
the great traveler, talked of the finest leather mats seen by him in India.
The Phulkaris of Haryana and East Punjab are also known for their distinctly
embroidered patterns. One such variety has rows of designs or motifs of
fruits, flowers or birds. The other variety has motifs drawn from everyday
life.
The hill areas of Himachal Pradesh produce a double sided embroidery known
as Chamba Rumal.
Bihar too has a rich tradition in embroidery. People here embroider the
Kashida, in which the entire surface is covered with embroidery. The Kantha
work from Bengal is also known for its beauty and uniqueness.
In Orissa, canopies and tents are embroidered for use at the Puri Rath
festival at a village called Pipli. Down South in Karnataka, the Kasuti
embroidery is a stylized form with stitches based on the texture of the
fabric. The three different stitches are the Negi, the Gavanti and the
Menthi.
In Chikanayakapeta of Tamil Nadu, cloth embroidery is specially prepared for
decorating the carved ratha or chariot in which the gods and goddesses are
taken for procession.
They make tubular forms very similar to pillars, or long banners, carrying
Ganeshas, lingams etc. The tribal Toda women in the Nilgiri area also
prepare a kind of embroidery used in their distinct garment.
Well, the list can go on. But at least now you can appreciate the art and
the rich cultural past that have gone into any traditional fabric, next time
you see or use one.
Wine is a preferable choice to uplift the mood of imbibers; a beverage of
celebration. A sparkling wine in a clear straw yellow color, and a rich
bouquet reminiscent of fruits and flowers would be the choice of all wine
enthusiasts. How trendy would it be to carry this appetite stimulant is a
bag made exquisitely for itself? A 'Wine Bag' that can turn a 'gift of
grape' into something to treasure. Unique wine bags are now available in the
market to impress.
Asian Crafts from
Bangladesh offers Finished leather
For wholesale order, Price quote, Please Contact:088-01190234176, or email: shameem.sarwar@gmail.com
With a capacity of over
100000 sq.ft. of leather per month,
Asian Crafts Provides you with a leather quality that confirms to the
International Standards of being PCP and azo-free.
Leather types that we export are goat, sheep, buffalo & cow.
Offering you the following finishes:
Cow vegetables Leather produced using nature, friendly technology of
vegetable extracts instead of chrome powder. Similar to the Italian Leathers
this may be milled cow veg or plain cow veg in look.
Cow Nappa Nappa means soft, leather is soft and smooth to touch.
Cow Glazed Glazed is based on protein finish to give the leather a
natural look.
Cow oil pull up A Semi Chrome leather with a natural break and smooth
touch.
Cow DD
Cow DD / DM
Cow Antique
Many of these finishes are possible in goat, sheep, buffalo or cow leather.
Ask for any color shade and it will be yours! Besides, our experience shows
that colors generally preferred are black, brown, cognac, burgandy.
Please note that there might be a slight color variation.
Its mainly due to the variation in the size of hides, leading to unequal
absorption of color chemicals.
Asian Crafts from Bangladesh offers
handicrafts
For wholesale order, Price quote, Please Contact:088-01190234176, or email: shameem.sarwar@gmail.com
Our wholesale handicraft
productions and handicraft supplier of Asian Crafts handicrafts service is
dedicated to providing both the widest range of wholesale giftware, wooden
handicrafts, terracotta handicrafts, bamboo handicrafts, leather products
and quality personalized services for buying handicraft designed to produce
excellent profits when resold. We welcome the challenge of creating or
finding new handicrafts to meet the needs of an evolving markets and can
gather comprehensive new handicraft options to meet your needs.
As we are both licenced handicraft exporter and Asian Crafts handicraft
wholesale supplier you can expect to make a profit by reselling our
products, buying Asian Crafts handicrafts at unbeatable prices. We can
efficiently ocean freight either LCL (less then container) or FCL (full
container) wholesale handicraft orders cost effectively to almost any
worldwide location.
Our handicrafts buying managers and handicraft quality control staff see
that wooden handicrafts terracotta handicrafts, bamboo handicrafts, leather
products and Bali handicrafts are inspected for uniformity, moister content
and other strict quality control criteria. Our experienced packing and
warehouse staff see that all handicraft orders are well packed for safe
shipping and maximum use of shipping space.
Wine bags / Bottle bags:
Wine bags are available in various sizes to carry wine bottles. They are
normally made from jute and are dyed in vibrant colors to give an appealing
look. Strong handles are attached to it to assure its durability. These bags
are also offered in customized forms as per the requirements of customers.
They are also made from finest quality of paper using brass aluminum eyelets
with strong cotton, silk, or jute handles. Paper bags hold as much weight as
a plastic bag, and are 100% bio degradable and eco friendly. Handcrafted
wine bags are available made from mat work. These bags have a tempting look
and manifold the intoxication of the wine.
Organic wine bags:
With the increasing awareness of global warming and environmental hazards,
now organic wine bags are making inroads into the wine market. Made from
100% certified organic cotton or blends of 60% hemp and 40% charmeuse, these
bags are suitable for every environment conscious shopper. The bags are
woven and printed with low impact inks and dyes which do not harm the
environment. These beautiful and reusable bags are a gift in themselves.
An Elegant Gift Packing:
Wine bags are an attractive and best gift option for all those people who
wish to make a gift of love and fun. Epitome of style, they reflect fine
craftsmanship making a preferable gift for wine connoisseurs; an extra
special way to present the gift. It is also ideal for wine companies and
vineyards as premium packaging because it ensures against breakage by
keeping the bottles from clinking. A survey undertaken by the National Wine
Industry Board of France states that 12.5% of consumers preferred to buy
wine packed in wine bags. 68% of the people expressed their wish to gift
wine to their friends and relatives packed in the bag. Australia is one of
the first countries to use wine bags. The market penetration for wine bags
in Australia is 50%, followed by Norway with 42%, Sweden with 33%, Finland
with 25%, and Denmark with 12%.
Wine bags are easy to carry and look very elegant. These bags are trendy and
are designed to keep a wine bottle with safety and style. They hold the
bottles in standing and organized position. The bags are designed in such a
way, that they hold wine bottles with different shapes. Beautifully designed
with a spectrum of colors they are available for a single wine bottle and
also with multiple compartments for storing more than one bottle. The bag is
divided into sections enabling people to carry the wine bottles comfortably
without the worry of the bottle being cracked as they are kept separately
without touching each other and in a standing position.
Wine bags are one of the fastest growing segments of the market, catering to
the people who want to shop with convenience and longer shelf life of the
bags. Made in different designs and styles they make a fashion statement.
Wine bags are worth buying; for wine lovers.
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