In a departure from its routine activities, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council organised a Crafts Exchange Workshop in Delhi recently in association with the World Crafts Council.%% {{Abhushan Conference}}$$ T he World Crafts Council, an international, non-profi t organisation committed to reviving crafts all over the world, and providing a supporting environment for craftspersons, this year held its annual summit in New Delhi. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council partnered with the body to hold the GJEPC-WCC Crafts Exchange Workshop during the international jewellery summit titled, “Abhushan – Design Dialogues in Jewellery”. The two events ran consecutively between January 28 to February 6, 2011.%% India has a rich tradition of crafts across the nation, with each area having its own speciality. However, the rapid development of society within India as well as changing consumer tastes across the world have proved a challenge to the historic and ancient crafts which remain rooted in the past. According to the organisers, “The need was therefore to re-establish the contextual relevance of the jewellery crafting techniques and infuse new energy into them. It was equally pertinent to explore the possibility of the nonprecious craft jewellery to cross over into the precious jewellery segment, thereby enabling it to move up the value chain.” Thus the concept and aim of the workshop was to equip the skilled craftsmen with insights which would help them make their creations more relevant to the modern marketplace, while at the same time showcasing Indian crafts and artisan talent and skill to the rest of the world. “The objective of such an initiative was to commence a collaborative process of innovative product development, such that it benefi ts both the craft jewellery and the precious jewellery segments,” say the organisers.

For the workshop, four types of crafts were chosen as a focus which broadly represented different regions of the country: Bidri from Karnataka/Hyderabad; Filigree from Orissa; Patwa (silk yarn) from Jaipur; and lnterlaced/woven bamboo jewellery from the North East. The attempt was to bring these crafts onto a common platform with precious jewellery.%% Materials used in the workshop included recycled material – seed- paper/thread – natural fiber – beads and copper/silver wires.

A total of 21 participants were selected from applications received by the GJEPC from either member companies of the GJEPC or from its various training institutes, and were from three categories: Artisan, Designer & Faculty.%% The workshops were designed with a holistic approach so as to give the participants a detailed historical and cultural context of the particular craft, its stylistic particularities of colour, texture etc and to gauge and strengthen their technical skills to work that craft. It also aimed to provide them with critical sensibilities in order to allow them to highlight and celebrate the craft while innovating in design. By the end of the workshop the participants developed prototypes and products which were displayed and will also be displayed at the IIJS 2011 in Mumbai.%% Inaugurating the workshop, Mahesh Rao of GJEPC gave a motivational speech urging the participants “to bring out their best during the workshop”. Further, he said that while the Indian jewellery industry was looking “outside to inside” the stage had now come for the “inside out” approach, meaning that it is necessary to look within to cater to the world market.%% Rita Menon, Secretary – Textiles, Govt. of India also attended the event and addressed the participants. She specially thanked the Council for partnering the event and said that she looked forward to the Council taking it up to the next level.

Shimul Vyas from NID (National Institute of Design) had actively worked to help the Council design and formulate the workshop and was one of the mentors at the workshop while international jewellery designer, Clara Saldarriaga from New York was the other. They were ably assisted by Jasleen Manrao, Dipika Vijay and Parag Vyas.%% Usha Krishna, President, World Crafts Council and Rajam Subramaniam presided and gave away the “Certificate” and mementos to the “craftsmen” at a valedictory function held on the final day.

{{Abhushan – An International Summit}} The International Summit was inaugurated by Sheila Dixit, Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi along with Dayanidhi Maran, Minister for Textiles, Government of India and Pannaka Lakshmi, State Minister for Textiles, Government of India on February 4, 2011. Chairman of GJEPC, Rajiv Jain, was honoured during the inauguration along with other dignitaries on the dais.%% During the summit, a number of stimulating seminars were held, at which eminent speakers from India and around the world made presentations on the present and future status of jewellery. The sessions which were interactive in nature covered areas of traditional, tribal and contemporary design and the speakers and moderators were from Latin America, North America, Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe.%% Hemant Shah, Co-convener, PMBD Committee, GJEPC made a presentation on behalf of the GJEPC titles “Al’Craftist” taking off from the word “Alchemist”. In his presentation, Shah focused on the need for old things to be renewed to be accepted in the new modern world. He presented the vision of the GJEPC to take crafts into the realm of fine jewellery and outlined the way ahead. He stressed that the GJEPC was clear that “craft should not be tampered with” and committed to maintaining its integrity.%% Some other prominent speakers included Umesh Ganjam, Biren Vaidya, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Suhani Pittie.%% The summit included a number of other features: {{Seed to Silver Exhibition}} - Six sections representing North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and India exhibited between 30 to 40 pieces each. The display was of international class which was done painstakingly to showcase the material, the method and the final product on display.

{{Craft Jewellery Bazaar}} - The bazaar created a direct interface between craftspersons and consumers. The jewellery for sale here ranged from traditional and tribal to contemporarys-urban, using materials as diverse as fibre, metal, twine, beads, terracotta, wood and recycled materials.%% {{Jewelled Treasures }}– A retail avenue was set up where leading Indian jewellers displayed diamond and precious jewellery. Over 31 companies exhibited from all over India including big names like GRT-Chennai, Amrapali, Tibarumal Jewellery, Hyderabad, Mangatrai Pearls, Hyderabad, Chennai Diamonds, Krysla etc.%% {{Designer’s Gallery}} - Artisans and leading designers from India and around the world were given the opportunity and the space to showcase the best in non-conventional jewellery, which included creations in innovative materials like acrylic, shells, beads etc. Suhani Pittie, Deepti Sudhindra, Vasundhara, Amrapali, Nalani Panday, Pallavi Bhartia were some of the leading designers who displayed their jewellery at this section.%% Several prominent personalities including Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister of New Delhi Sheila Dixit and many leading industrialists and other dignitaries attended the event.%%

{{The aim of the workshop was to equip the skilled craftsmen with insights which would help them make their creations more relevant to the modern marketplace, while at the same time showcasing Indian crafts and artisan talent and skill to the rest of the world.}}

{{Hemant Shah presented the vision of the GJEPC to take crafts into the realm of fine jewellery and outlined the way ahead. He stressed that the GJEPC was clear that “craft should not be tampered with”}}

In a departure from its routine activities, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council organised a Crafts Exchange Workshop in Delhi recently in association with the World Crafts Council.%% {{Abhushan Conference}}$$ T he World Crafts Council, an international, non-profi t organisation committed to reviving crafts all over the world, and providing a supporting environment for craftspersons, this year held its annual summit in New Delhi. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council partnered with the body to hold the GJEPC-WCC Crafts Exchange Workshop during the international jewellery summit titled, “Abhushan – Design Dialogues in Jewellery”. The two events ran consecutively between January 28 to February 6, 2011.%% India has a rich tradition of crafts across the nation, with each area having its own speciality. However, the rapid development of society within India as well as changing consumer tastes across the world have proved a challenge to the historic and ancient crafts which remain rooted in the past. According to the organisers, “The need was therefore to re-establish the contextual relevance of the jewellery crafting techniques and infuse new energy into them. It was equally pertinent to explore the possibility of the nonprecious craft jewellery to cross over into the precious jewellery segment, thereby enabling it to move up the value chain.” Thus the concept and aim of the workshop was to equip the skilled craftsmen with insights which would help them make their creations more relevant to the modern marketplace, while at the same time showcasing Indian crafts and artisan talent and skill to the rest of the world. “The objective of such an initiative was to commence a collaborative process of innovative product development, such that it benefi ts both the craft jewellery and the precious jewellery segments,” say the organisers.

For the workshop, four types of crafts were chosen as a focus which broadly represented different regions of the country: Bidri from Karnataka/Hyderabad; Filigree from Orissa; Patwa (silk yarn) from Jaipur; and lnterlaced/woven bamboo jewellery from the North East. The attempt was to bring these crafts onto a common platform with precious jewellery.%% Materials used in the workshop included recycled material – seed- paper/thread – natural fiber – beads and copper/silver wires.

A total of 21 participants were selected from applications received by the GJEPC from either member companies of the GJEPC or from its various training institutes, and were from three categories: Artisan, Designer & Faculty.%% The workshops were designed with a holistic approach so as to give the participants a detailed historical and cultural context of the particular craft, its stylistic particularities of colour, texture etc and to gauge and strengthen their technical skills to work that craft. It also aimed to provide them with critical sensibilities in order to allow them to highlight and celebrate the craft while innovating in design. By the end of the workshop the participants developed prototypes and products which were displayed and will also be displayed at the IIJS 2011 in Mumbai.%% Inaugurating the workshop, Mahesh Rao of GJEPC gave a motivational speech urging the participants “to bring out their best during the workshop”. Further, he said that while the Indian jewellery industry was looking “outside to inside” the stage had now come for the “inside out” approach, meaning that it is necessary to look within to cater to the world market.%% Rita Menon, Secretary – Textiles, Govt. of India also attended the event and addressed the participants. She specially thanked the Council for partnering the event and said that she looked forward to the Council taking it up to the next level.

Shimul Vyas from NID (National Institute of Design) had actively worked to help the Council design and formulate the workshop and was one of the mentors at the workshop while international jewellery designer, Clara Saldarriaga from New York was the other. They were ably assisted by Jasleen Manrao, Dipika Vijay and Parag Vyas.%% Usha Krishna, President, World Crafts Council and Rajam Subramaniam presided and gave away the “Certificate” and mementos to the “craftsmen” at a valedictory function held on the final day.

{{Abhushan – An International Summit}} The International Summit was inaugurated by Sheila Dixit, Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi along with Dayanidhi Maran, Minister for Textiles, Government of India and Pannaka Lakshmi, State Minister for Textiles, Government of India on February 4, 2011. Chairman of GJEPC, Rajiv Jain, was honoured during the inauguration along with other dignitaries on the dais.%% During the summit, a number of stimulating seminars were held, at which eminent speakers from India and around the world made presentations on the present and future status of jewellery. The sessions which were interactive in nature covered areas of traditional, tribal and contemporary design and the speakers and moderators were from Latin America, North America, Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe.%% Hemant Shah, Co-convener, PMBD Committee, GJEPC made a presentation on behalf of the GJEPC titles “Al’Craftist” taking off from the word “Alchemist”. In his presentation, Shah focused on the need for old things to be renewed to be accepted in the new modern world. He presented the vision of the GJEPC to take crafts into the realm of fine jewellery and outlined the way ahead. He stressed that the GJEPC was clear that “craft should not be tampered with” and committed to maintaining its integrity.%% Some other prominent speakers included Umesh Ganjam, Biren Vaidya, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Suhani Pittie.%% The summit included a number of other features: {{Seed to Silver Exhibition}} - Six sections representing North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and India exhibited between 30 to 40 pieces each. The display was of international class which was done painstakingly to showcase the material, the method and the final product on display.

{{Craft Jewellery Bazaar}} - The bazaar created a direct interface between craftspersons and consumers. The jewellery for sale here ranged from traditional and tribal to contemporarys-urban, using materials as diverse as fibre, metal, twine, beads, terracotta, wood and recycled materials.%% {{Jewelled Treasures }}– A retail avenue was set up where leading Indian jewellers displayed diamond and precious jewellery. Over 31 companies exhibited from all over India including big names like GRT-Chennai, Amrapali, Tibarumal Jewellery, Hyderabad, Mangatrai Pearls, Hyderabad, Chennai Diamonds, Krysla etc.%% {{Designer’s Gallery}} - Artisans and leading designers from India and around the world were given the opportunity and the space to showcase the best in non-conventional jewellery, which included creations in innovative materials like acrylic, shells, beads etc. Suhani Pittie, Deepti Sudhindra, Vasundhara, Amrapali, Nalani Panday, Pallavi Bhartia were some of the leading designers who displayed their jewellery at this section.%% Several prominent personalities including Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister of New Delhi Sheila Dixit and many leading industrialists and other dignitaries attended the event.%%

{{The aim of the workshop was to equip the skilled craftsmen with insights which would help them make their creations more relevant to the modern marketplace, while at the same time showcasing Indian crafts and artisan talent and skill to the rest of the world.}}

{{Hemant Shah presented the vision of the GJEPC to take crafts into the realm of fine jewellery and outlined the way ahead. He stressed that the GJEPC was clear that “craft should not be tampered with”}}

In a departure from its routine activities, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council organised a Crafts Exchange Workshop in Delhi recently in association with the World Crafts Council.%% {{Abhushan Conference}}$$ T he World Crafts Council, an international, non-profi t organisation committed to reviving crafts all over the world, and providing a supporting environment for craftspersons, this year held its annual summit in New Delhi. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council partnered with the body to hold the GJEPC-WCC Crafts Exchange Workshop during the international jewellery summit titled, “Abhushan – Design Dialogues in Jewellery”. The two events ran consecutively between January 28 to February 6, 2011.%% India has a rich tradition of crafts across the nation, with each area having its own speciality. However, the rapid development of society within India as well as changing consumer tastes across the world have proved a challenge to the historic and ancient crafts which remain rooted in the past. According to the organisers, “The need was therefore to re-establish the contextual relevance of the jewellery crafting techniques and infuse new energy into them. It was equally pertinent to explore the possibility of the nonprecious craft jewellery to cross over into the precious jewellery segment, thereby enabling it to move up the value chain.” Thus the concept and aim of the workshop was to equip the skilled craftsmen with insights which would help them make their creations more relevant to the modern marketplace, while at the same time showcasing Indian crafts and artisan talent and skill to the rest of the world. “The objective of such an initiative was to commence a collaborative process of innovative product development, such that it benefi ts both the craft jewellery and the precious jewellery segments,” say the organisers.

For the workshop, four types of crafts were chosen as a focus which broadly represented different regions of the country: Bidri from Karnataka/Hyderabad; Filigree from Orissa; Patwa (silk yarn) from Jaipur; and lnterlaced/woven bamboo jewellery from the North East. The attempt was to bring these crafts onto a common platform with precious jewellery.%% Materials used in the workshop included recycled material – seed- paper/thread – natural fiber – beads and copper/silver wires.

A total of 21 participants were selected from applications received by the GJEPC from either member companies of the GJEPC or from its various training institutes, and were from three categories: Artisan, Designer & Faculty.%% The workshops were designed with a holistic approach so as to give the participants a detailed historical and cultural context of the particular craft, its stylistic particularities of colour, texture etc and to gauge and strengthen their technical skills to work that craft. It also aimed to provide them with critical sensibilities in order to allow them to highlight and celebrate the craft while innovating in design. By the end of the workshop the participants developed prototypes and products which were displayed and will also be displayed at the IIJS 2011 in Mumbai.%% Inaugurating the workshop, Mahesh Rao of GJEPC gave a motivational speech urging the participants “to bring out their best during the workshop”. Further, he said that while the Indian jewellery industry was looking “outside to inside” the stage had now come for the “inside out” approach, meaning that it is necessary to look within to cater to the world market.%% Rita Menon, Secretary – Textiles, Govt. of India also attended the event and addressed the participants. She specially thanked the Council for partnering the event and said that she looked forward to the Council taking it up to the next level.

Shimul Vyas from NID (National Institute of Design) had actively worked to help the Council design and formulate the workshop and was one of the mentors at the workshop while international jewellery designer, Clara Saldarriaga from New York was the other. They were ably assisted by Jasleen Manrao, Dipika Vijay and Parag Vyas.%% Usha Krishna, President, World Crafts Council and Rajam Subramaniam presided and gave away the “Certificate” and mementos to the “craftsmen” at a valedictory function held on the final day.

{{Abhushan – An International Summit}} The International Summit was inaugurated by Sheila Dixit, Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi along with Dayanidhi Maran, Minister for Textiles, Government of India and Pannaka Lakshmi, State Minister for Textiles, Government of India on February 4, 2011. Chairman of GJEPC, Rajiv Jain, was honoured during the inauguration along with other dignitaries on the dais.%% During the summit, a number of stimulating seminars were held, at which eminent speakers from India and around the world made presentations on the present and future status of jewellery. The sessions which were interactive in nature covered areas of traditional, tribal and contemporary design and the speakers and moderators were from Latin America, North America, Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe.%% Hemant Shah, Co-convener, PMBD Committee, GJEPC made a presentation on behalf of the GJEPC titles “Al’Craftist” taking off from the word “Alchemist”. In his presentation, Shah focused on the need for old things to be renewed to be accepted in the new modern world. He presented the vision of the GJEPC to take crafts into the realm of fine jewellery and outlined the way ahead. He stressed that the GJEPC was clear that “craft should not be tampered with” and committed to maintaining its integrity.%% Some other prominent speakers included Umesh Ganjam, Biren Vaidya, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Suhani Pittie.%% The summit included a number of other features: {{Seed to Silver Exhibition}} - Six sections representing North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and India exhibited between 30 to 40 pieces each. The display was of international class which was done painstakingly to showcase the material, the method and the final product on display.

{{Craft Jewellery Bazaar}} - The bazaar created a direct interface between craftspersons and consumers. The jewellery for sale here ranged from traditional and tribal to contemporarys-urban, using materials as diverse as fibre, metal, twine, beads, terracotta, wood and recycled materials.%% {{Jewelled Treasures }}– A retail avenue was set up where leading Indian jewellers displayed diamond and precious jewellery. Over 31 companies exhibited from all over India including big names like GRT-Chennai, Amrapali, Tibarumal Jewellery, Hyderabad, Mangatrai Pearls, Hyderabad, Chennai Diamonds, Krysla etc.%% {{Designer’s Gallery}} - Artisans and leading designers from India and around the world were given the opportunity and the space to showcase the best in non-conventional jewellery, which included creations in innovative materials like acrylic, shells, beads etc. Suhani Pittie, Deepti Sudhindra, Vasundhara, Amrapali, Nalani Panday, Pallavi Bhartia were some of the leading designers who displayed their jewellery at this section.%% Several prominent personalities including Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister of New Delhi Sheila Dixit and many leading industrialists and other dignitaries attended the event.%%

{{The aim of the workshop was to equip the skilled craftsmen with insights which would help them make their creations more relevant to the modern marketplace, while at the same time showcasing Indian crafts and artisan talent and skill to the rest of the world.}}

{{Hemant Shah presented the vision of the GJEPC to take crafts into the realm of fine jewellery and outlined the way ahead. He stressed that the GJEPC was clear that “craft should not be tampered with”}}