PARTICIPATING IN THE 46TH EDITION OF IHGF DELHI FAIR-AUTUMN 2018, OCTOBER 14-18; ORGANIZED BY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL FOR HANDICRAFTS (EPCH) BY PRABUDDHA BISWAS

Earlier known as Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair, IHGF Delhi Fair - Spring and Autumn, has seen 45 superlative editions organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). 

The Inaugural Session: - Heralding the Autumn sourcing season, the 46th edition of IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2018 unfolded for five days business rendezvous starting October 14, 2018; with inauguration ceremony and contingents of pre-registered buyers from across continents as well as domestic volume retail businesses from India. The Honourable Minister of State of Textiles, Government of India, Mr. Ajay Tamta had inaugurated the Fair as the Chief Guest. 

Common Platform: - The 46th edition of IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2018 is being organized by EPCH for the promotion & marketing of the handicraft sector in India. India is known for its diverse and dynamic handicraft traditions and has all the potential to satisfy the changing demands of a global market. Common platform has been built and provided for Indian artisans and sellers to interact with the global buyers and to manage their strategies, understand the market scenario.

Intervention of O/o DC Handicrafts: - IHGF Delhi Fair has established its identity among buyers world over. It also provides opportunities to small and medium size enterprises to showcase a wide variety of traditional items, which reflect India’s handicrafts heritage. The Ministry of Textiles through O/o DC (Handicrafts) is supporting the sector in design development, innovations, technological upgradation and skill upgradation. These interventions have enhanced opportunities for market linkages and specially aided exploration of new export markets. The acceleration and growth of exports, results in generation of additional employment in the handicraft sector and EPCH is continuing with its goal of imparting the welfare of 6 million artisans currently engaged with the industry.

Complete Supply Chain: - The IHGF Delhi Fair has taken shape over 45 successful editions as the world’s largest and most comprehensive sourcing event, encompassing the complete supply chain of home fashion & utility, collectibles, gifting and fashion accessories. There are exuberant Theme Pavilions, emphatic presence of Mega Craft Clusters like Jodhpur, collective representation from States of North Eastern Region, regional artisan crafts, product lines from primary producers from far flung craft villages as well as innovations from EPCH’s Integrated Design Development Projects.

Lay out of the IHGF Delhi Fair, Autumn 2018: - Bringing in a comprehensive representation from all craft clusters of India, this edition features (i) 3,000 exhibitors in fifteen well-spread product sectors, in enriched display areas across 15 halls at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida. (ii) A new addition to the show-Hall No. 16 located outside the front façade of the venue, houses more furniture, home accessories and garden & outdoor products. (iii) Besides, trade visitors will have access to the 900 showrooms (Marts) of leading exporters, located across three levels at the India Expo Centre.

A Panel discussion and Featuring of Product by Ramp Presentation: - A Panel Discussion on ‘Translating Trends into Products’ and Knowledge Seminars on a variety of topics have been conducted by experts from various fields, in course of the fair. Everyday, Ramp Presentations have also been conducted to publicize the products.

International Buyers and Designers seeking Indian source: - It is observed that this fair brings in buyers sourcing an average of over 30% from India. Many source, 50% to 70% of their total imports from vendors they got associated with IHGF Delhi Fair and the buyers hailing from diverse countries and they include Australia, USA, Denmark among others. There are designers who are keen to seek Indian suppliers who can innovate and customize their ideas into products of home décor and they include designers from Spain, USA among others.

Publicity Campaign by IHGF Delhi Fair and its Outcome: - IHGF Delhi Fair has reached out to buyers in Europe, Middle East, and Asia through strategically planned publicity campaigns (i) with e-mailers, (ii) informative communiques as well as (iii) road shows and (iv) one-to-one interactions through its informative booths in prime international trade shows for home, lifestyle, fashion and textiles. As a result, many overseas buyers from all major buying markets are visiting this edition. Besides buyers from India’s traditional markets, substantial traffic from new and emerging markets have been visiting. This time also new exhibitors and first timers have flocked the fair. As a result, additional display space of 3200 sq. metres and another hall, making this autumn edition, a show with 16 halls.

IHGF Delhi Fair Buyers Interest Matrix: - The buyers are having differing interest matrix in buying the products and they include the following: -

SL. NO.	PRODUCT LINE	PERCENTAGE
1	Home Textiles & Flooring	20%
2	Furniture & Interior Accessories	18%
3	Festive Décor & Gifts	17%
4	Houseware & Decoratives	14%
5	Spa, Wellness and Bathroom Accessories	12%
6	Lamps & Lighting	8%
7	Fashion Jewellery & Accessories	6%
8	Paper Products, Toys & Stationery	5%

State / Region-wise Participation: - The Sellers in the IHGF Autumn Fair are mostly hailing from Uttar Pradesh (about 34%), followed by Rajasthan and ‘New Delhi & Northern India’ (both constituting approx. 25% each), Southern India (about 8%) and Eastern India and Western India constituting (4% each) respectively.

Display / Participants in Broad Product Groups: - In the IGHF Autumn Fair, the Sellers display their product with more focus on certain product groups (i) Houseware, Decorative & Gifts on the top followed by (ii) Home Textiles, Furnishing & Floor Coverings; Furniture and Accessories and Fashion Jewellery & Accessories as the next in importance. In the third category of display comes the Lamp & Lighting Products followed by Carpets & Rugs in the fourth category. The fifth displayed category consist of Bathroom accessories and the last category of displayed item consist of Lawn Garden Ornament & Accessories.  

Product Category and Promising Assortment of Creations: - With 14 display sectors IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2018 brings in noteworthy expansion in all categories with a promising assortment of creations, varied in inspiration, processes and materials – Art Metalware,  EPNS ware, wood carvings, furniture and accessories, glassware, fashion jewellery & accessories, hand-printed textiles, shawls, stoles and scarves, embroidered goods, lace, toys, houseware, decorative gifts & general handicrafts, home textiles and home accessories, candles and incense, pottery, terracotta and ceramics, nautical instruments, Christmas and floral decorations, dry flowers and potpourri, handmade paper products, crafts made of leather, lacquer, marble etc.

[PHOTOGRAPH WITH TWO EXHIBITORS]

Continuous Innovation to engage, inspire and satisfy the End-Consumers: - (i) As gifting converges more with many categories like table top products, tableware, kitchenware, home textiles, etc. manufacturers in India constantly innovate to present collections that can engage and inspire the end-consumers. (ii) In the spa & wellness category, dry flowers & potpourri, incense and candles in interesting packaging offer variety. (iii) Architectural knick-knacks with charming detailing like garden and outdoor products, wood and iron brackets are available alongside gazebos, columns and mantles as well as weathered table top décor.

The Present Thrust in Marketing: - (i) With a wide-ranging choice in modern, directional and unusual medium to high-end gifts and collectibles, (ii) the emphasis is on material, design, value addition, utility and competitive pricing. (iii) Regional crafts bring in unique local cultures, native uses, and indigenous craft techniques, with some of them blended with modern design trends to offer contemporary choices.  

[PICTURE WITH BUYERS CUM PARTNERS]

Bihar has a great scope and opportunity: - The handicrafts of Bihar (both textile based and others) can take this opportunity to showcase their handicrafts (i) either by fitting their craft-wise products in multifarious product line, in the EPCH organized IHGF Autumn & Spring Fair or (ii) fit in the Theme based pavilion as displayed by Desert Crafts of Jodhpur or North Eastern Region.

 SOURCE: -

1. Fair Directory (IHGF Delhi Fair, Autumn, 14-18 October 2018)

2. Show Bulletin, IHGF Delhi Fair Autumn 2018, 14-18 October

3. My Visit to IHGF Delhi Fair, Autumn dated October 14 & 15, 2018

MEETING BIHAR ARTISTS AT "FOOD AND CRAFT BAZAR", DILLI HAAT ON OCTOBER 13, 2018

It was a great experience..........visiting the FOOD AND CRAFT BAZAR, DILLI HAAT at New Delhi but it was equally refreshing experience when we could get the information of having about 23 craft stalls from Bihar and that too from Mithila region with most of the stalls of Madhubani painting, belonging largely to Jitwarpur artists.......and few of them are also displaying products of Sikki craft and Paper Mashie also.

The first stall I visited, belonged to Pankaj Jha of Jitwarpur followed by Renu Jha, also of Jitwarpur, all from Madhubani district. I visited the third stall, who hail from Simri, Rajnagar, Madhubani.

The fourth stall belonged to Nitin Kumar Jha from Sahar Ghat, Benipatti, Madhubani. He lamented, "Benipatti becomes the backyard and are not highlighted like their brethren at Jitwarpur or Ranti but they are also equally capable....."

In the stall of Nitin, I also met Chakradhar Lall, Paper Mashie artists with his products. He belonged to Sursand, Sitamarhi. She is the son of famous Sikki artist, Late Kumudini Devi of Sitamarhi district. I visited the stall of Prayas Bharti, artist of Madhubani Painting from Subhankarpur, Darbhanga.

I visited the stall of Ganesh Paswan, famous artist from Jitwarpur and younger brother of Shiven Paswan (National Awardee).Then I had been to the stall of Atish Kumar, also from Jitwarpur.

Lastly, I visited the stall of Ram Kumar Dutta who is also from Jitwarpur. Presently, he is settled in New Delhi and is one of the leading Artist-Entrepreneur.

Whereas, some of them are artists of Madhubani Paintings but most of them are 'Artist cum entrepreneur'......and few of them have already settled in New Delh with varied contacts across India and abroad.

Most of the stall of the artists, whom I visited are State Awardees. The Madhubani Painitings have been known for three distinct styles: - Bharni, Kachni and Godna along with few variants. The most significant thing about the Madhubani Painting about their modern day counterparts are that they are more with experimentation, fusions are demand oriented products and ..........some of the paintings are drawn by the artists; who stay away from "Mithila Geographical regions".........and as a result.....they may be retaining the styles........ but cannot catch the earthly flavour of Mithilanchal!

The marketing network of Madhubani Painting have flourished and travelled a long distance, all these years, both in 'space and time' but the question arises is that "Whether the existing marketing network and design interventions have helped the artists of Madhubani Painting in general or it has only helped few artists and their family members?"