Jharcraft reels in Japan

The day when a kimono is woven at Khunti is not far off. Unstoppable Jharcraft will now shine in the land of the rising sun.

Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation Limited, better known as Jharcraft, is eyeing silk exports in Japan after wooing select markets in the US, Europe, China, Malaysia and Singapore.

Japanese buyers showed interest in Jharcraft products at the three-day India Show in Tokyo last month between June 20 and 22.

An initiative of the Union ministry of commerce to promote Brand India across the globe and provide a platform for Indian exporters, the show was organised by EEPC India on the sidelines of the M-Tech exhibition held to mark the 60th anniversary of Indo-Japanese diplomatic relations.

Jharcraft’s fibres and fabrics were seen and liked by Blue House Corporation, Tomidokoro Buff, 3K Corporation and others.

Right now, as managing director Dhirendra Kumar enthuses, Jharcraft is preparing organic silk stoles and neckties to woo the market and researching designs that can catch the fancy of the Japanese.

“Our designers are busy creating organic silk stoles in various designs and fabrics that will suit the taste of Japanese customers. We have been approached by a number of export houses, which have asked for samples,” said Kumar.

Jharcraft products forayed in the Southeast Asian market with the silk expo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last November jointly with Central Silk Board, under the Union ministry of textiles.

Exim Bank (Export Import Bank of India), the country’s premier export finance institution, has also given Jharcraft “suggestions” on what the Japanese like in terms of fabric.

“Exim Bank officials suggested certain fabric ideas. Each country is different. Japanese buyers have a yen for certain colours and motifs that we respect. They like translucent woven fabrics in light shades and our designers are also working on some motifs,” said Kumar.

Jharcraft has reaped a turnover of Rs 70 crore in the 2011-12 fiscal and aims at Rs 100 crore this year. Growing domestic demand apart, it has an export footprint in around 10 countries now.