By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI/KARACHI: To give back to the community, The Crafter’s Guild, Esnaf and Firefly invited enthusiasts and hobbyists alike to support local business and uplift the craft community. This summer, to celebrate Made in Pakistan, the much awaited Indie Art and Craft Show returned after a two year break on 24th July. With overcast skies and a roaring rain storm, individuals still flocked from far and wide to support the event.
Countless enterprises impacted by circumstances post COVID bounced back to present their best foot forward in representing handmade crafts, art and designed based merchandise, all locally made.
The one day event had over 90 exhibiting brands, each incredibly passionate and determined in a vast range of categories. The products on display included but are not restricted to traditional handicrafts, home décor, calligraphy and paintings, natural skincare, artisan foods, jewelry and accessories, apparel, stationery and bespoke gifts.
Visitors had an opportunity to connect with the hands behind handmade, learn of stories behind the makers, and explore collaborative potential. Participants spent three months preparing for the event and had also received training to help overcome business woes.
Training had been offered by The Crafter’s Guild in understand marketing, learning the best forms of communication to personalize interactions with customers, and making products which have value and utility.
The journey to support local creatives and shed light to handmade began ten years ago. The Crafter’s Guild turns ten this year, and is scaling its efforts to impact more lives. Several craft initiatives and organizations have been extended support as beneficiaries for stalls this year. They include NGOs, differently abled individuals, ventures working on sustainability and recycling, children from underprivileged communities and even roadside vendors struggling with current inflation and market instability.
Partner organizations extending support for the event include The Wrap Studio, Sundartas Collection, Runway Pakistan, Billboard Pakistan, U&I, Concave Naturals, Concave Craft, as well as Bank Al Falah. Bank Al Falah has made it possible for digital transactions through POS terminals for participants at the event. This not only empowered businesses to transact more sales, but provided ease to visitors as a convenience to shop their heart out without chasing ATMs in waterlogged roads.
Progressing toward digital mediums, Esnaf, the online marketplace developed by Marketfront also intends to be at its optimum performance as a means to make way for income generation by the end of this year.
This will empower thousands, namely women working from home with a quest to sell their handmade crafts online. This, too has been an ambition of The Crafter’s Guild as a means to give back to the community for its strength and support over the last decade. Over 1300 craft based ventures have participated and grown from such events by The Crafter’s Guild. Esnaf itself already has many high performing stores generating monthly revenue using Esnaf as it’s e-commerce solution. All participants have been offered FoC stores on the Esnaf Platform to supplement the July Show affected by rains.
Several businesses were exhibiting for the very first time and had already garnered immense success and welcome through this platform.
The event also gathered great support from countless influencers and celebrities alike. For anyone passionate about Made in Pakistan, this event was one not to be missed, and for anyone looking for a silver lining toward positivity, such a platform was a starting point.
