Handloom-Handicraft National Buyer-Seller Meet kicks off

3-day Garvi Gurjari Show to showcase and promote handloom and handicraft products of Gujarat

Hyderabad, February 25, 2019: Gujarat Government’s Garvi Gurjari - Handloom-Handicraft National Buyer-Seller Meet kicked off here at Hitex Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad. The 3-day event organized by Gujarat State Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd.(GSHHDCL) was formally inaugurated by Mr.Sandeep Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Cottage & Rural Industries), Government of Gujarat. Mr.Shankarbhai Dalwadi, Chairman – GSHHDCL; Mr.A.K.Jha, IFS, Managing Director, GSHHDCL; B.Venkateswarlu, Head – Marketing & IT, GSHHDCL and others graced the occasion. A Government of Gujarat Undertaking, GSHHDCL is an apex state body working for the identification, revival, development and promotion of handloom and handicrafts sector of Gujarat. The 3-day event being organized for the first time in Hyderabad saw over 100 national buyers-sellers and 50 exhibitors-artisans participating in the three-day event having seminars, exhibition, demonstration and B2B meet. The main idea of the event is to bringing artisans on a single platform to interact with local buyer from Hyderabad as well as buyers from all over India and enhance their business potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sandeep Kumar said that the three-day event of Garvi Gurjari presents the rich and colourful legacy of handlooms and handicrafts of Gujarat. The artists and weavers of Gujarat have a unique touch of originality that is showcased in the artistic products, he said. The artists and weavers of Gujarat have carved a niche for themselves. The government has played a pivotal role for promotion and marketing of handloom and handicraft products. Exhibition and travel melas are being orgnised from time to time for this, he informed. The skill development and training programs make sure that the handloom and handicraft products are adaptable for the contemporary world, he said.

Over 100 national buyers representing various states of India are attending this 3-day event. It is aimed at facilitating B2B meetings between the national buyers and artisans of Gujarat. Special exhibition on Gujarat’s art & crafts showcasing the exquisite creativity and vibrant designs of the State of Gujarat is the unique feature of the Event, said Mr. Shankarbhai Dalwadi, Chairman, GSHHDCL.

A Seminar on “Handloom & Handicrafts – The Way Forward” was also held in conjunction with the meet. The speakers threw light on market trends and strategies towards effective marketing of the products, informed Mr. A.K. Jha, M.D., GSHHDCL.

The general public are invited to visit the exhibition. It will be open from 3pm to 6pm on Monday and 10 am to 5pm on 26th and 27th February.

The exhibition has Gujarat’s renowned arts and crafts such as Kuchchi-Jamnagari Bandhani, Patan’s Patola, Kuchchi Embroidery, Kuchchi Handloom, Rogan Painting and Pithora Art. Artists from fields like Copper Bell and Rogan painting which are on the verge of extinction are also being showcased.

On display will be hand painted textiles, garments (including skirts, blouses, kurtas, stoles, shawls and jackets), Handblock printed items, Mud and Terrakota works, Metal crafts, decorative hangings, Tangaliya work, batik printing, shawls, handlooms, stoles, bed covers, sarees, etc.

Some works that garnered good interest from the people were Patch work / Applique, Rogan painting, Block printing, Clothing, Clay work, Art metal ware, Bandhani Organic Cotton, Embroidered Wall Hangings, Wall pieces, Patola fabric, etc. A stall from Bhuj selling sweet toned copper brass coated iron bells saw the people turning into musicians and try out playing music on them. Suleman Kasam Luhar, a tenth generation bell maker proudly showcased cooper-brass coated iron bell chimes and hangings priced economically from Rs.150 to Rs.3500/-

Sneha Jogi of Sneha Creations, Ahmedabad showcased Cotton fabric painted kurtas which she claimed are wash proof and last a long time. Bharat bhai of Kutchi Art Trust displayed Mud work wall hangings that are washable and are priced from Rs.550/- to Rs.35,000/- for bigger works. Gohel Dandiya stall had Dandiya sticks embellished with colourful work from small to big size present in 47 varieties. Suresh Makwana of Pooja Patola showcased beautiful Patola sarees in varied hues priced from Rs.10,000/- onwards. It takes around 6 days to design and weave one saree, he said. Two men are required for weaving the saree on a loom, he proclaimed. His family is in the Patola saree business for the last 70 years, he informed.

Brightly hued fabrics made with age-old traditions and modern trends attracted the crowds. Available in an array of variety, colour and form; the handlooms and handicrafts of Gujarat are sure to steal your heart. Do drop in a take back a piece of Gujarat with you.

The exhibition is open from 10am to 5pm till 27th February.