CEPC holds a webinar on on Importance of Trend Insights in Design of Handmade Carpet and Rugs
CEPC holds a webinar on on Importance of Trend Insights in Design of Handmade Carpet and Rugs
Varanasi: Ahead of the commencement of the 41st India Carpet Expo, the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) organised an interactive webinar on Importance of Trend Insights in Design of Handmade Carpet and Rugs in association with National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and World University of Design, as the Colour and Design forecast plays an important role in the present market scenario and help the manufacturers and Exporters to assess the requirement of the consumers/ market and their taste.
The CEPS is holding the virtual edition of the Expo from January 27 to 31. This virtual edition is an initiative to bridge the gap between Indian products and demand of handmade carpets and floor coverings across the globe in post pandemic era.
Ms. Mudita Mishra, Additional Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) was the chief guest of the webinar. Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC, Shree Ram Maurya, Member COA, CEPC, Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director, CEPC, participants of 41st ICE and around 150 member exporters attended the webinar.
The CEPC chairman informed that the Council already received the participation of 175 member- exporters in the exhibition and more than 214 buyers already registered for their participation and expressed hope that the figure may reach to 300 overseas buyers.
He mentioned that in the 40th India Carpet Expo – 1st Virtual Exhibition, Council constituted Design Awards which were appreciated by all the members. To motivate the members and participants this time also Council is constituting the Design Awards in the following different categories including Hand-knotted carpet, hand-tufted carpet, durries, and handloom carpet/durries.
A seven-members selection committee/ jury of eminent designers and professors and eminent personalities in the field of fashion and designing will select the awardees. The committee includes SK Jha, senior director (Handicrafts), Sunil Sethi, president, Fashion and Design Council, New Delhi, Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design, Dr Kaustav Sen Gupta – Lead Insight, VisioNxt, and associate professor NIFT, Chennai, Dr Shalini Sood Sehgal, creative director, VisioNxt and proffesor, NIFT, New Delhi, Ms. Bindoo Ranjan, Centre Head, NID, New Delhi, and Ms. Parul Singh, associate director, IBEF, New Delhi.
The CEPC chairman informed that IBEF is doing all the branding and promotion of 41st India Carpet Expo and also working for re- designing launching of Kaleen Labels. He also briefed the members about the background of Kaleen Label initiative in 1995 when some vested interest NGOs alleged the carpet industry for using child labour to malign the image of the industry in overseas market and then Council came up with Child Welfare programmes and Kaleen Label initiative.
Ms. Mudita Mishra appreciated the CEPC for initiative of virtual exhibition and webinars to bridge the gap between Indian products and demand of handmade carpets and floor coverings across the globe in pandemic and post pandemic era. She assure full support of the Govt. of India especially from the O/o. the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
Sanjay Gupta, Vice-Chancellor, World University of Design in his key note address mentioned that the industry is not getting the actual value of the products and stressed the need for setting up of Common Design Centre and creating unique identify and branding of Indian products. “Today, we are capable of making carpets as per the requirement of the buyer in different style, size and design but identity of Indian brand is missing,” he said and gave the example of apparel industry where after intervention of two decades from job worker India is now established its identity and consumers are asking for Indian brand apparel. In the present scenario designers are very important and worthy and can increase our business manifold. In the coming years we require to prepare special strategy to retain in the market and to go one step further by creating a bigger intervention for creating an online virtual platform for catering the requirement of carpets and floor coverings in international market.
Dr. Kaustav SenGupta, associate professor NIFT, Chennai and Dr Shalini Sood Sehgal Prof., NIFT, New Delhi made a power point presentation on importance of trend insights in design of handmade carpet and rugs and requested the members to create their own design to communicate the feelings, environment, cultural appropriation in design, learn to appreciate and use what is available locally, material innovation in design. Need to create a product as per the mindset of end consumer by using human intelligence with Artificial Intelligence. Strategy will vary for each product and market.
Ms. Parul Singh suggested for creation of USP for Indian products and designing is very important fact and need to use designing capability in presenting your products to the buyers and to create your own story and products.
The CEPC chairman conveyed his thanks to the speakers of the webinar, jury members and participants. He further informed that the UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath had formally inaugurated the Bhadohi Carpet Expo Mart on December 31, 2020 and handed over the mart to the Council. The Council is in process to make mart fully functional and is organizing a curtain raiser programme of Bhadohi Carpet Expo Mart for the industry on February 7, 2021.
