Revival of the Traditional Crafts: Diversification Towards Utilitarianism

Abstract

Making handicrafts in India is a family heritage that has been handed down through the generations. In India, millions of people still rely on home grown industries and age-old methods of manufacturing and production. These are the handcrafted and tangible manifestations of a certain community or culture. But, as the globe becomes more interconnected, items are becoming increasingly commoditized, and artists throughout the world must compete with things made in factories. The constant need for new variations on a product's style, design, and color pose a serious danger to artisans and threaten to supplant their work with mass-produced, factory-made machine crafts. The fact that Indian markets do not appreciate the genuine worth of craft is the industry's greatest drawback. When this worth is acknowledged, and consumers are prepared to pay a premium price for craft based items, it should lead to greater incomes for weavers and craftsmen and provide a boost for millions of rural-based livelihood prospects related to this industry. As a result of diminishing demand, an aging workforce, and the challenge of reaching new customers, many artists have relocated to metropolitan areas in pursuit of low-skilled manufacturing jobs.