Expanding The Global Reach Online For Indian Handicrafts

NEW DELHI- ‘Indiahandmade’, a dedicated digital marketplace under the Government of India’s Digital India initiative, is bringing over 64 lakh handloom and handicraft artisans into the digital economy by connecting them directly with buyers and expanding market access.

The platform, developed by the Digital India Corporation under the Union Ministry of Textiles, enables artisans and weavers to sell handmade products online, reducing dependence on intermediaries while improving income opportunities. It also supports livelihoods and helps preserve India’s rich handloom and handicraft heritage.

The country has an estimated 64.66 lakh handloom and handicraft artisans. Women account for more than 70 per cent of handloom weavers and 64 per cent of the overall artisan workforce, highlighting the sector’s role in generating rural employment and promoting women’s economic empowerment.

The platform offers a wide range of handmade products, including apparel, home décor, furnishings, furniture, jewelry, bags, footwear, religious items and handloom products.

It also showcases Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products and One District One Product items, giving region-specific crafts greater visibility while helping preserve traditional skills.

Several artisan enterprises, including Santarms, Dastkar Craft and Villages Craft, are already using the platform to market products ranging from wooden décor and terracotta items to handloom sarees, cane, bamboo and cotton products.

India aims to onboard more than 60 lakh artisans onto the platform while ensuring India’s traditional crafts continue to thrive in the digital economy. (IANS)