A craft fair brought a wonderful showcase of local talent to Lahore....
ARTS AND CRAFTS
A spectrum of creativity was on display at the Emporium Mall in Lahore last weekend when the Pakistan Art & Craft Expo brought together crafters from across the city and beyond. The event showcased the talent of the stallholders, from artists to candlemakers, jewellers, calligraphers, embroiderers, woodworkers, and more. On sale was a variety of handicrafts, paintings, clothes, jewellery, décor, and even plants, and it was impossible to walk past the hall without admiring the skills of the craftspeople and wanting to purchase at least a few dozen items along the way!
The participants – mostly small business owners – aimed to display and sell their wares while attracting new customers to their brand and increasing their visibility.
Here’s a quick look at some of the crafters that were part of the fair and what they have to offer. (And don’t worry if you missed the event; you can find many of these brands online and simply order anything that catches your fancy.)
Mrs. Waseem hopes to “light up your moments” and scent your world with her candles, a project she has been focusing on for the last year. Depending on the size and design, you can get candles in the price range of PKR 650 to PKR 2,300. You can also order customized candles with the design and scent of your choice; and you can even add a secret message to your candle – after it burns for a few minutes, the hidden text will reveal itself!
A fledgling startup, Resin Ease – the brainchild of Haifa and Abdullah, an extension of their BBA project – focuses on resin items, mostly jewellery, ranging from simpler pieces like studs and keychains (for around PKR 350 each) to more intricate crafts like hand-drawn jhumkas (PKR 5,000 plus for a pair).
For the last three to four years, self-taught artists and calligraphers Rabia and Aman Abdul Razzaq from Narowal have been creating the painting that are available at Clube Art. Their focus primarily lies on Islamic calligraphy, and their work ranges in price from around PKR 800 for smaller pieces to PKR 25,000 for more intricate designs.
Mashal Banaras hand-paints the clothing items available at her recently launched brand Dastoor, creating everything from colourful flowers, cartoon characters (Powerpuff Girls, anyone?), and fauna designs. You can get painted caps, bags, and stoles for around PKR 1,250, while bigger dupattas will cost you around PKR 2,250.
Saba Shahzad has been making embellished cloth envelopes (PKR 250) for over a decade, and she has now added bright, colourful decorative bottles (PKR 2000), decked with laces and beads, to her inventory.
Real gemstones – aquamarine, pearl, moonstone – set in silver with a stainless steel chain … that’s what Farva Butt’s Fay Studio specializes in. Farva has spent over 3 years making jewellery, and if you’re willing to spend around PKR 1,000 to 5,000, you too can own one of her dainty pieces.
A business that moved from Swat to Lahore a decade ago, Gul Marjan’s Swat Art Gallery offers hand-painted and hand-carved wooden items, ranging from trays and coasters for around PKR 1,000 to beds for as much as PKR 5 lakhs! They even have antiques, including a century-old cabinet
