UP to set up export centre for chikan work

The Uttar Pradesh Export Corporation Ltd, a state government undertaking engaged in the promotion and marketing of handicrafts and handloom items of Uttar Pradesh, is going to establish an export promotion centre for chikan craft in the city.

"This will be a common facility centre for pattern setting, packaging and designing of chikan clothes. A design software is also being developed to engrave designs on the cloth, thus saving the craftsmen time," said Markandey Singh, managing director, UPECL.

The centre, to be operational in a month, is being set up under the Assistance to State for Infrastructure Development for Exports scheme of the Union government.

The centre will have facilities like machines for development of prototype and job work, a design studio, a training programme for upgrading skills, workshops for exports and a library and data bank.

"Chikan craft is an important handicraft of the state. However, its export is now almost negligible. This is due to certain weaknesses in the products like improper quality of stitching, poor quality of washing and finishing and most importantly, absence of standardisation in sizes," added Singh.

Last year's export from the state accounted for Rs 25, 000 crore, about 33 per cent of the total exports from the country. The share of textile and ready-made garments, which also includes chikan clothes, was just Rs 1,500 crore.

The required machines for cutting and sewing have been brought from Bangalore, for about Rs 73 lakh. The software for designing and pattern making will be provided in the design studio. Chikan manufacturing in the state has about 600 members and over 100,000 artisans.

"The local Chikan Handicraft Association and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi have been associated with the activities of the centre, along with giving marketing tips to the manufacturers," Singh said.