Increase in demand for Nepali handicrafts from the US and European markets

Handicraft exports inched up 2.55 percent to Rs 1.65 billion in the first six months of the fiscal year, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) said. According to the central bank, Nepal’s handicraft exports amounted to Rs 1.60 billion during the same period last year.

Handicraft exporters attributed the rise in shipments to swelling demand mainly from the US, Europe and Canada. Hem Ratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (Fhan), claimed that exports were higher than shown by the official data.

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Handicrafts of Nepal - Popular products made in Nepal

Products Description
Bags & Accessories : 

Purses, hand bag, travel bag and the like made from cloth and Leather

Basketry Products : 

Various types of products made from bamboo and cane split, stem or root.

Ceramics : Glazed and non glazed Earthenware

Christmas Decorations : 

Ornaments products meant for decorating Christmas tree made from textile, metal and clay.

Contemporary Paintings :
 Paintings using sketch and colors on canvas and other materials

Craft Paintings : 
Paintings using wheat/ rice bran/ stem, waste thread and other materials.

Crazy/ Fancy Hats : 
Hats with symbolic impression like flags, animals and other specially meant for big sporting events.

Ethnic Dolls :
 Dolls & Puppets of Nepalese culture made of cloth, clay and wood.

Ethnic Garments : 
Garments of traditional design.

Filigree Products : 
Decorative articles such as animals, charm boxes made of brass, copper, white metal and silver with wire works and studded with stones.

Giftware : Small items made from different materials basically useful for offering gift.

Hand Knitwear : Articles made of hand – knitting such as pullovers, sweaters, mufflers, socks, legwarmers, caps

Handloom Products : Cotton cloth woven with non-mechanized handlooms.

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Carpet of Nepal

Carpet manufacturing has been the traditional business of the villages in the northern mountainous belt of Nepal. But commercial carpet manufacturing began in Nepal along with the exodus of Tibetan refugees in Nepal, in 1959. Though Nepalese were weaving carpets for generations, Europeans through Swiss association for technical Assistance (SATA) contributed in the development of the carpet industry in Nepal through financial and technical support to the Tibetan refugees, In the beginning it was started as a source of living for the Tibetan refugees and the products were just the items for tourist consumption. Gradually, it began to attract a consumer adored initiated, in 1964. From the first commercial shipment to Europe, particularly Switzerland. Since then, it has transformed into a more value added, labor intensive commodity and remains the most important export product in Nepal by abysmal effort entrepreneurs with international vision.

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THANKA Products of Nepal and Tibet

What is THANKA ?

The THANKA or 'scroll-painting' is perhaps the most typical religious and artistic utterance of the Tibetan Buddhism. The THANKA is to the Lamaism; an artistic utterance of a deep religious experience, submitted to strict iconographical conditions concerning depiction, color, dimensions, proportions, etc...

THANKA's are predominantly objects with meditational meanings. The portrayed subjects are very divergent, from historical characters, through pure imaginary creatures to strict geometrical forms, the mandala's. These are the ultimate means of meditation because they represent the cosmos. These Mandala's also return in architecture (for example the giant stupa of Bodnath in Nepal ). THANKA's represent the feelings and ideas that are hidden deep inside each of us. We can conclude this from the fact that the artist only starts to paint when he is mentally prepared (fasting and meditation). The work itself may take several months, depending on the size and subject...

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