Venue: USA

They say travel is the best education. Travel is not only doing the sites. It is also about experiencing local culture, tasting local food, and finding out about local arts and crafts. To this end, we have an interesting observation. Indian handicrafts seem to have more fans overseas than at home.

During our recent trip to USA, we looked up a host of handicraft stores, lifestyle stores, and home décor shops in various towns of California. California, home to Silicon Valley, has a diverse population. Technocrats from all over the world have assembled here. It is a reflection of how the present-day USA has emerged – Trump or no-Trump.  Indians, Chinese, Latinos, and Hispanics form a large part of the population here. They could have influenced the aesthete of the region.

Be it the posh Pottery Barn, Pier 1, World Market, or the functional TJ Maxx or Target, we could identify craft items in 3 categories. One category comprised mass-produced and machine-made furniture and crockery from China. These were often glossy and extremely symmetrical.  They all looked the same.

The second category was hand-painted pottery from Mexico and other Latin American countries. These resembled the bright painted hand painted pottery and blue pottery that is so famous from Jaipur and other parts of Rajasthan. It is surprising as to how similar craft styles have developed in apparently disconnected parts of the world.

The third category was decor items and fabrics from India.  Indian woven and block-printed pillow covers, bed spreads,  rugs, kilims and carpets, vases, wood carvings, ceramics, and stone ware are very popular items at all lifestyle stores. Each piece was unique and we could not find two of the same item. We loved the improvisation on our humble doodhwalas aluminum milk cans and our clay pots and matkas. These were modified to vases, planters, urns for sideboards, and table and stand lamps. The contemporary twist to our traditional crafts is just what Indian artisans need to remain relevant and go global.

We also recall seeing an indigo-dyed natural wool bed spread at Surajkund Mela. We spotted a cushion cover made of the same fabric at Pottery Barn, Cupertino. There was another one – white bandhni on indigo base. It looked like waves of a sea. In fact, apparently India is the largest producer of handloom in the world.

Further, an antique store had a model of a kettuvalam boat from Kerala. It made a beautiful picture. There were plaques with “Namaste” and “Namaskar” painted at the craft store – World Market. These would make great accents for the door or entryway.

The irony is that these items are perhaps only produced for export and are not available for consumers back home.  The quality and style – both elude us in India. Nevertheless, it is heartening to see such a great boost to the limping crafts sector in India. In fact we bought some India-made stuff and are carrying them back for our homes in Delhi. This is handicrafts and handloom coming a full circle as they say.

P.S.

Can you believe this? Very many Christmas decorations in USA are crafted and imported from India! We came across reindeers, brass candle stands, cross, and even a carved Christmas tree! On the topic, we visited some antique stores in Niles, Fremonte, California, and came across these mahogany tables clearly procured from India. Now they sit proudly at home in Cupertino.

Needless to say, we are swelling with Christmas pride as Indians.