Policy Seminar and Exhibition Marks 10 Years of Craftmark at IHC, New Delhi

NEW DELHI, September 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

AIACA, a national network of handicraft and handloom organizations and artisans working to promote market-led growth for the sector, launched the one-of-its-kind Craftmark certification trademark (http://www.craftmark.org/) in 2006 to provide a sector-wide umbrella branding for genuine Indian handmade craft products and to connect crafts producers to commercial buyers.

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To mark ten years of the Craftmark Initiative, AIACA in collaboration with UNESCO successfully concluded a Policy Seminar and Exhibition of Craftmark products on September 2, 2016 at the Tamarind Hall, India Habitat Centre.

Ms. Rashmi Verma, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, GoI who was the Chief Guest, said, "The handloom and handicrafts sector in our country plays an extremely important role and I congratulate AIACA for creating the brand Craftmark, the need of the hour is to collaborate and bring in effective branding and certifications in place to prosper." 

Ms. Moe Chiba, Chief, Culture Sector, UNESCO said, "India is a land of creative individuals, what it lacks is having equally excellent institutions, the need of the hour is to have a quality check in place to embrace the modern market. India is yet to flourish into a cultural industry due to the lack of professional allied services."

The policy seminar focused on how the creative assets of India in terms of the vast diversity of craft skills and craftspersons can be organized and promoted into economic value for the artisans and enterprise growth that makes the sector economically vibrant.

The half-day event included a series of presentations and a panel discussion by influential thought leaders of the craft industry such as William Bissell (MD, Fabindia), Neelam Chhiber (Co-Founder and Managing Trustee, Industree Foundation), Meera Goradia (Cluster Development Head, Jaypore), Anuj Mishra (Head of Sourcing, House of Anita Dongre Limited), Maximiliano Modesti (Fashion entrepreneur for International Luxury Brands), Payal Nath (Founder and CEO, Kadam, and a Craftmark Member), Sharmistha Mohapatra (Head - Livelihoods and Rural Enterprise, IL&FS Cluster Development Initiative Ltd), Srinivasan Iyer (Program Officer, Ford Foundation New Delhi), Sushma Kaushik (Principal, Aavishkar), Utpal Gokhale (GM, EXIM Bank) and Craftmark members from across India. The discussions focused on new initiatives and success stories in the field of creative and cultural industries, continuing challenges in design, capital, skills, technology and business growth in the sector, and explored potential collaborations between different stakeholders to spur enterprise led growth and increase incomes of artisans.

The policy seminar was accompanied by an exhibition showcasing creations by Craftmark members, which was greatly appreciated.

About Craftmark:  

AIACA launched the Craftmark in 2006 as a certification for genuine Indian handicrafts, licensing the use of the mark to artisan organizations, craft-based businesses, cooperatives, and NGOs that meet certain standards and norms for labelling a product as handmade. In response to the key needs and gaps of the value chain, Craftmark has grown beyond being a certification system, and helps strengthen artisan enterprises and improve the lives of artisans through its Enterprise Support Programme which caters to its large Craftmark member base with customized and need-based business support services. Craftmark is linked to 100+ buyers in the domestic and international market including e-commerce platforms, wholesale buyers and retail chains.

To learn more, visit http://www.craftmark.org/about-us

Media Contact:
Madhura Dutta
[email protected]
+91-11-26272492
Executive Director
All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association

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