Written by: Sania Ahmed Khan
Posted on: March 07, 2018 | 
| 中文
Truck art boxes
On Sunday, 4th March, the Royal Rodale invited over 70 home-based creative entrepreneurs of Karachi, to showcase their products in a day-long business fiesta, giving them a chance to network and market their creations to customers firsthand. Hosted by The Crafter’s Guild, the fair was the first in a series of events held over the year, where local artisans showcase their work. The Crafter’s Expo held each December is the flagship event of the organization.
Bohemian was marketed on social media with the hashtag ‘#HappinessIsHandmade,’ thus the intention was to create awareness about the care and effort that goes into each handicraft. When you operate in the 'arts & crafts' arena, sometimes it's not recognized that you're running a business, and your work isn’t just a hobby. As members of The Crafter’s Guild, these designers, artists and makers, have more visibility, credibility and a badge of professionalism. The 70 participants who attended Sunday’s fair, were introduced to each other in an ice-breaking session three months prior to the event, and attended several motivational workshops in preparation for the exhibition.
The fair brought together artists who specialized in creating customized mugs, cushion covers, key chains, notebooks, notepads, fridge magnets, and coasters for customers who were looking for an artistic spin on everyday household objects. Ghazal Pirzada Studios was one entrepreneur whose stall caught our attention, since she offered doodle-friendly cushion covers for sale. Former lecturer at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Ghazal has been in the business of creative textiles and stationery for more than five years now, having gained nearly 20,000 followers on her Facebook page. Everything That’s Creative (etc) is a similar venture, which specializes in products created with fuzzy bendy wire. However, they claim that they can make anything creative, provided that the customers give them proper instructions.
Abida’s collection of gift boxes, envelopes, and fancy packing material, was another stall that stood out. A housewife in her daily life, Abida realized that she had a knack for creating decorative material, when she made candy bags with organza cloth for a family wedding, a few years ago. Previously, she was only catering to requests from family members, but recently she has started taking orders in bulk for friends worldwide. She was happy to have found customers beyond her neighbourhood, and was grateful to The Crafter’s Guild for the opportunity.
Hafsa Naeem of Busy Li’l Hands deserves honorary mention, for bringing something new to the table. Bright and chirpy, Hafsa was successful in bringing customers to her stall, thanks to the colourful display of edible, homemade play dough. The fruity smelling play dough was made with a family recipe, and lasts up to a year, given that there is no prolonged exposure to air. The play dough is sold with complimentary goods, such as a rolling pin, scissors, cutters, educational booklets and an activity mat. Hafsa has engaged her daughters in the business, by using their artwork in the booklets, thus keeping every product original and creative. Though the business is meant to provide fun learning opportunities for children, Hafsa jokingly remarked that the fruity fragrance and soft texture makes the play dough an excellent stress reliever for adults as well.
Mocca was present with their signature macaroons, while Healiv offered a range of face masks, scrubs, and lip balms for customers to, “retreat and revive naturally.” Zaynah and Neeya’s Cover with Style came head to head with their hijab, abaya and shawl collection. Other items in clothing included gota-embellished shalwar kameez and block printed stitched and unstitched shirts. As always, shoppers could find a variety of truck art inspired items such as hand painted khussas, tissue boxes, shelves, and a range of crockery.
Royal Rodale proved to be a perfectly relaxed venue for the fair, as it was a training ground for the first timers. The entrepreneurs gained experience on how to display their products in unconventional settings, introduce themselves and their work to clients, connect with customers on a personal level, and to get to know other entrepreneurs. The organizers noticed that a lot of vendors become worried and panicky when in the midst of larger crowds. Overwhelmed, they found it harder to express the feelings behind their work and efforts. These mini-exhibits provide a simpler environment for them to talk about their inspirations, work, and aspirations, making it easier to connect with customers.
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