Dokra to hit fashion stores in Milan

Dokra, the brass metal art has been in villages of Orissa, Bihar and Chhatisgarh since time immemorial. Now their products are making way into the fashion stores of London, Milan and Paris.

Dokra is one of the oldest craft practised in these areas where artisans were till now making small figurines, animal heads and metal wire works with brass, catering to small local markets.

But the use of latest product designs and technologies has done wonders for them, extending their market to top design stores of the world.

The product line too has totally changed and now they are making good quality vases, serving sets, napkin rings, etc.

"With the help of latest technologies and new design developments, the craftsmen now make usable products for contemporary world markets," says Mukul Goyal, a design artist who is working with the craftsmen to develop a range of Dokra products.

"Nearly 10 new products lines have so far been developed which includes teflon coated cups to make them food-grade, lamps, napkin rings, flower vases and door handles," says Goyal, who is also helping these craftsmen to market their products in foreign markets.

"These craftsmen, however, have their limitations. Since they work with hand, the final finishing for exports has to be done somewhere else by machines. Teflon coating has to be done which again is an industrial process," he says.

"The market for these products is still very niche because they cannot be made in bulk. Each piece is hand made and takes time as it is first made in wax and then cast in metal," says Goyal.

"It is also the reason that while we have developed new product lines, we are not taking many-many orders as it takes around 6 to 8 months to complete one consignment," he says.

"But the demand is gradually increasing outside as it is a unique craft and not even priced very high," says Goyal adding a vase would cost around Rs 1000 whereas a pair of serving sets comes for Rs 1600.

"As of now the idea is not to increase the product line further but rather take 10 world class products for exports. We are also planning to hold exhibitions to create awareness among people about Dokra, " he says.

"A parallel Dokra products market, however, continues to exist locally, and the most popular products being temple crafts, jewellery, faces of Sun God," says Goyal.

A few Dokra craftsmen are also making products under the government patronage, but their quality remains questionable for foreign markets, he says.