Radhika MundraThe festive season is upon us and so is the need of finding the perfect gifts! If you’re someone who’s consciously making the switch to being more aware towards the environment, then I have found the perfect place to shop for both of us! In this fast-moving world of overpowering technology, take a breather, and explore the world of handmade products with me at iTokri! This website is a beautiful marketplace that serves as a vibrant community of skilled craftsmen from across the country. Each product listed here is a piece of art which has been meticulously hand-crafted. Find textiles, home decor, skincare, and more all in one place, a complete shopping solution which is sustainable and eco-friendly.
Recently had a chance to shop from this website so let me share my whole experience of shopping at iTokri! I was spellbound by the sheer amount of local crafts listed here and I was sad that I could only order within my budget. I had to choose a gift for my mom and I wanted to give her something different, not mainstream.
Clothing was not my first choice but you have to check out the collection available in clothing here. You can select your preferences in the kind of fabric, kind of printing, or from place of origin, how cool is that? Most of the specialised fabrics from each region of India can be found here. They are segregated by printing and weaving techniques.
Being a lover of local arts, I decided upon a beautiful Handcrafted Natural Water Reed Embroidered Shopping Bag from Manipur. Manipur is one of the handloom hubs of India and the remarkable thing about it is that most weavers here are women. Here’s the bag that I ordered-
It’s beautiful and quite trendy with the way straw bags are all the rage these days. You also get to know the artisans behind the product you shop along with where and how it originated. The bag I ordered is created by the artisans at Dastkar. Dastkar is a private non-profit that works to support traditional Indian artisans, mostly women and villagers. They have been selling with iTokri since 2012 and have sold over 50,000 plus products until now.
Apart from the wide range of amazing local crafts, I was also impressed by the environment-friendly packaging from iTokri. Each product that they send is accompanied by a handwritten note on recycled paper with a handmade gift. I received a cute wooden hairstick along with my order.
What’s special is that you can filter the products by region too. Say you’ve discovered all the crafts from areas you’re local to, so you can visit the farthest of India through their crafts. You can sort the products based on what each specific region has to offer. They have Kamchipuram weavings, Mysore paintings and Mural art from the South and Kashida sarees, Crewel embroidery and Tibetan craft from the Himalayan region.
So, if you’d like to purchase one-of-a-kind handmade products, this is the perfect place to do so! With Rakshabhandhan right around the corner, choose something special for your kin from local craftsmen this year. For those who value craftsmanship and authenticity, this site is an invaluable resource to make your gifting much more special.
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