Background: Have you ever looked at the price tag of a handmade product and wondered why it is so expensive? Abhay Singh explains why handmade products are worth their price.

Are you fond of buying handmade articles? Then you must realise its real worth more than anyone else. In the market you will find two kinds of articles, one that is machine made and the other are handmade. Both the handmade and machine made articles have their own positives and negatives, but I believe that handmade items add warmth to your home and wardrobe that can never be experienced with the products manufactured in factories with machines.

But the question that generally arises in people’s minds while purchasing these handcrafted products is – why are they so expensive? Why should you go for expensive handcrafted products when you can get the replica of it at half the price. But ultimately they are the replica and not the original. Would you want to add something to your home that has the beauty of tradition and culture that glorifies it or something that is made just for the purpose of being made and sold?

The important thing that needs our attention is that these handmade products are expensive and not overpriced. You may find it expensive because of the numerous factors that we will discuss, but they are not overpriced. It means people ask for the price it is worthy of. They do not make unnecessary demands.

The important thing that needs our attention is that these handmade products are expensive and not overpriced. It means that the makers ask for the price it is worthy of. 

Let us have a look at some of the important factors that can make us realise that handmade products are worth their price.

1. Creativity and imagination

Creativity and imagination are used to create handmade products and this cannot have a price tag. It is a person's imagination and creativity that decides what colour, design pattern or size is to be used to make it look worthy to sell it in the market. It is because of this reason that beautifully imagined paintings or pieces of arts are sold in lakhs of rupees and people happily buy it because of its unparalleled beauty. 

2. They are unique

Every piece of the handcrafted products is unique in its own way. The little additions made during the making of these products make each and every piece unique and different from each other. Their beauty lies in their uniqueness. As they are not machine made this is why there can be a change in the shade of the color or difference in design. Apart from that, the sizes may also vary a little that can make it quirky and more desirable than the others. There is always a scope for betterment when things are made with hands.

Also read: Vandita Vijayvergiya, Founder, Clay County
 

3. It’s handmade and takes more time

Handcrafted products are expensive because of a very important reason and that is they are handmade. It takes more time to make them. Machines are used for mass production and can possibly make hundreds of pieces in the time a craftsman finishes one product. A craftsman has to do everything on their own and the whole process takes a lot of time. Apart from that a lot of labour and hard work are involved in making these unique pieces of art. The blue pottery is one such example that can add to your home’s beauty.

4. Everything is done by the craftsmen 

The craftsmen are involved in each and every phase of the making of man-made products. From the selection of the material, thinking of the design, the colours that go with them, to the assembling of the product -- all is done by the craftsmen. But here the work does not end as they have to take care to bring them to the market. For this, the craftsmen look after the marketing of the product, designing the package, and finding a place to sell them. It requires a lot of hard work to bring these pieces of art to the customers.

Also read: The CraftMark initiative for Indian handicrafts

5. Materials are expensive

The materials used in the making of handmade products are usually expensive as the craftsmen do not buy cheap material to make it.  They buy natural raw materials, vegetable dyes and best quality materials for it. In addition to it they do not buy these materials in bulk but in small quantities that makes it more expensive as the material bought in bulk costs less. 

6. They are made by skilled workers

It is obvious that the person who is skilled is paid better than unskilled workers. In the same manner, a person who knows his art well and is trained in it usually deserves to be paid more because he can make it better than anyone who is not skilled.

Also read: Exporting handcrafted accessories that are a viable and sustainable alternative to plastic

7. Handcrafted products are better

The handmade products are way better than the machine-made goods in look, quality as well as durability. These handcrafted products are worth more because they are more authentic whether it is using natural materials or natural colors. All these points make it better and more durable.
 

Some of the above-mentioned points needed our attention to justify the price of the handcrafted products.

Image source: shutterstock.com

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