Looking for handicrafts? Tips on identifying and buying an authentic piece

Always buy from a reputable outlet, not from trinket shops outside tourist spots or on mall roads; remember that the beauty in a genuine piece lies in its flaws, unlike a machine-made copy

Recently craft crusaders called out fashion designer Sabyasachi for digitising Sanganer block prints. The headlines were screaming: “What Sabya owes Sanganer”. Patrons of handicrafts felt he was too focussed on promoting himself and his special collection for an international brand and nearly hijacked the story of India’s rich heritage, and the art form and livelihood of the artisans and karigars. Says Dilli Haat founder Jaya Jaitly, who leads a handicraft initiative called Dastkari Haat Samiti: “My noise with Sabyasachi was on why he took the karigaar’s work and digitised it. Collaboration is one thing but digitising it is to use