Handicraft

Handicraft is a type of work where useful and decorative items are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft. The term is usually applied to traditional techniques of creating items that are both practical and aesthetic.

Definition

Handicrafts are unique expressions and represent a culture, tradition and heritage of a country. The Handicraft Industry is one of the important productive sectors. Various attempts have been made to define this broad and diversified industry.

Types of Handicrafts

There are several different types of handicrafts, including but not limited to:

• Textile Crafts - These include any type of craft where you work with fabric, yarn, or surface design. Some examples are knitting, quilting, appliqué, weaving and dyeing. Many of these could obviously also fall into the decorative or fashion crafts categories since clothing, home décor, and other items are often made.

• Decorative Crafts - This category includes crafts where you are working with a hard surface of some sort, but are not building that surface. Some examples are furniture making, metal work, stenciling, stained glass, gilding, spongeware, and basketry.

• Fashion Crafts - These are crafts that deal with fashion and beauty, including jewelry making, beading, sequining, hat making, and other crafts related to personal adornment and clothing.

• Functional Crafts - These are crafts that serve a functional purpose as opposed to being purely decorative. This includes such crafts as woodworking, blacksmithing, glassblowing, and pottery.

Economic Impact

Handicrafts play very important role in representing the culture and traditions of any country or region. Handicrafts are a substantial medium to preserve rich traditional art, heritage and culture, traditional skills and talents which are associated with people’s lifestyle and history.

See Also

• Arts and Crafts Movement
• Craft Production
• Studio Craft
• Artisan
• Craftivism

References

Handicraft Resources
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