India's Handicraft Economy
Carpets of Bhadohi
How Bhadohi and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh became India's carpet belt, the hand-knotting process, exports, and the history of child labour concerns and the GoodWeave label.
Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh is India’s carpet capital.
The carpet belt
Bhadohi, Mirzapur and nearby areas produce most of India’s handmade carpets.
Process
- Hand-knotted carpets can take months to make.
- Hand-tufted carpets are quicker and cheaper.
Exports
Most carpets are exported, mainly to the US and Europe.
Child labour
In the 1990s, reports of child labour led to boycotts. GoodWeave (originally Rugmark, founded 1994) certified child-labour-free carpets.
GI tag
Bhadohi carpets received a GI tag.
Challenges
Competition from machine-made carpets and rising wages.
A weaver spends four months hand-knotting a silk carpet sold for a high price in New York.
Hand-knotting takes months.
- Bhadohi is India's carpet capital.
- Most carpets are exported.
- Child labour concerns led to certification.
- Machine-made carpets compete.
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