The Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India Ltd (HHEC) has earned a distinct reputation in present day. HHEC is a company led by the Government of India Textile Ministry, has an exotic range of Indian handicrafts, Indian handlooms, Indian decorative, Indian gifts, Indian antiques, leather decorative, gems and jewellery, leather decorative, wrought iron handicrafts. HHEC has been involved for the past four decades in development and exports of handicrafts utilising the crafts skills from the artisans of India to create visually appealing and economically suitable products for the world markets.
Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India has been constantly adding to its wide spectrum of products by connecting itself to more and more artisans, weavers and master craftsmen in rural areas. HHEC offers an array of products like woodcraft, furniture, metal-bronze, iron, brass, copper and silver, stone-marble, soap stone, granite, jewellery made of gold, silver and costume, pottery or stoneware, textile based products, furnishings and made-ups, bone, horn and shell items, Papier machie, carpets, rugs, glassware, clay or terracotta, jute and leather, garments.
The procurement network of Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India is quite extensive and it ensures authentic products and their impressive range from almost all the states of the country. The Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India Ltd has close links with Cooperative Craft Societies and Weavers Associations. The HHEC has one man procurement centres in Bangalore, Erode, Karur, Machilipatnam, Salem, Kolleagal, Vridhachlalam, Cannanore, Nagari, Sathyamanglam, Srivilliputhur and Hindupur.
The Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India deals with a huge range of handicrafts in classified categories and numerous native styles that are chosen from all the states of India. The materials of the items made in this corporation varies from metal wares to wood , textile, terracotta, fibres, precious and semi-precious stone, glass, papier machie etc. HHEC has an astounding range of decorative, giftware and utility products to offer to the foreign buyers and the corporation also gets things custom-made according to the buyer`s requirements through its reservoir of master craftsmen.
Moreover, HHEC procures carpets of the finest quality in silk and wool from Kashmir, Badohi, Mirzapur, Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar and Delhi. All these places are well known for hand woven and hand knotted carpets available in traditional (in wool and silk), tribal (Gabbech), tufted (An Indo Nepal Variety) variations. The creatively made items are made available to the overseas buyers through its exports channel. This export corporation offers a vast collection of floor coverings from every part of India, comprising of `dhuries` of cotton, wool, jute in woven, printed, and tie and dyed designs, floor mats of cotton chenille and jute blends. Even chain stitched rugs are available in wool on cotton base floral, `kelim` and contemporary design.
The jewellery made by the artisans of Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India are fusion creations with the touch of modern outlook. The handicraft corporation creates exquisitely hand crafted traditional and contemporary jewellery in 18, 21 and 22 carat gold and precious and semi precious studded jewellery. These very fine jewellery articles have been constantly attracting the discerning buyers, ever since the unit was introduced. Being able to incur tremendous demand, response and confidence in foreign buyers, the HHEC is also responsible for holding various gold exhibitions.
Known for their aesthetic appeal and multi-utility aspect, handloom fabrics are perennial favourites. The handloom section of Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India divulges the best quality tie and dye block prints, woven designs, plains, mirror and appliqué work, diverse embroideries etc on handloom fabrics. Moreover, household items, decorative items and utilitarian items are available in wide variety, reasonable range and stylish materials. HHEC has a wide collection of its fabrics at its Chennai base, virtually covering the complete range of handloom fabrics, silk, wool, cotton and mixed blends in captivating colours and designs.
After the collaboration of the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India with Pierre Carding in 1970, the handloom section is most coveted for readymade garments. The handicrafts and handloom body of government of India has tie ups with big names like Hanae Mori, Issey Miyake, Charvet and Zandre Rhodes and the corporation is competent enough to handle work order on short deadlines. It has a big, fully equipped garment manufacturing unit at Guindy (Madras) and a smaller manufacturing unit at Noida (Just outside Delhi). The trendy and traditional wear section of Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India has made it quite successful and complementary to the handlooms division, as together they offer so much to choose from to the overseas buyers.