We are the craft of our towns

Handcrafts, handwork, craftwork are various terms that describe all handmade products, most of which are made only with the most basic tools. Handicrafts as a phrase is made up of two words. One describes something that is made by hand, while the second word also covers the tradition, culture and heritage. It is closely linked to the history of rural crafts and ancient civilizations that have been practiced for centuries. Just as folk art is characterized by cultural or religious significance, it is also characteristic for handicrafts. Craftsmanship does not have its meaning only in creation, but in history it has been shown that has above all useful properties. Indigenous natural materials with traditional techniques are always used in emerging of those.

Today, manufacturers mainly recourse to more modern materials, but traditional techniques are still in use. Although quite a few things have changed in fabrication machines to date, mostly simplified in handling them and became more sophisticated when it comes to stitching technology, handicrafts are products that are not made en masse using automated machines and it takes much more time to craft them.

Handicrafts have a long and varied history and have been present in human life since time immemorial. The most famous and oldest handicrafts originate from India. Their history is about 5,000 years old. In the Moen Jo Daro River, archaeologists have found the first handicraft examples in excavations along the Sindh Indus Valley in India. The inhabitants of this part of India have a rich craft tradition as well as for the time very sophisticated technique of pottery, metal forming, weaving, jewelry fabrication, etc. Similar excavations of handicrafts were also found in tombs at the exits in Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization. India is a country that is still known today for its long tradition and rich culture. It is a country with one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of handicrafts tradition in the world. They are very creative and produce many different crafts, which also play an important role in economic development. The most important craft centers in India are Moradabad, Saharanpur, Jaipur and Jodhpur. Dhokra is one of the oldest crafts still being made today. An interesting fact is that women in the Iranian Baluchistan, according to the pottery tradition of the city of Kalpurgan, which is 5,000 years old, still make red handmade bowls with dotted patterns.

At the end of the 19th century, the arts and crafts movement gradually emerged in Europe, North America and Australia, emerging as a design reform and social movement. Proponents of this movement were William Morris and John Ruskin. Today, handicrafts are widespread throughout the world, and are also included in both non-formal and formal education systems. Most crafts require specific development of skill and patience for the making itself, but practically anyone can learn it with some effort. It is connecting, relaxing, useful and as a craftsman and a buyer, it offers a kind of satisfaction.