Raw Materials

 Raw Materials

Bhutan is absolutely land locked in every sense. Because of its geographical oddity, there was hardly any interaction between people from different regions as their mobility was constantly restricted by the difficult mountainous terrain. People in different regions had their own distinct languages and variation in their lifestyles and the kind of materials they produced according to the climate and region they live in. In highlands one comes across waterproof tents that yak herders made out of yak hair. For other materials they used the softer felt out of the underbelly wool. Moving on towards warmer climates and more fixed settlement's, one being to realize that sheep wool was primarily raw material for textile. 

Despite having skills in production, only a few raw materials such as wood, stone, bamboo and canes are found abundant in the country. The products from these raw materials such as mask, hats, musical instrument and woven clothes can be seen today in some 80 stalls along the Norzin lam area.

The products from these raw materials such as mask, hats, musical instrument and woven clothes can be seen today in some 80 stalls along the Norzin lam area. These indigenous products are made by local producers from across the country.

The other reasons cited for making the promotion of Bhutanese arts and crafts challenging is due to old design of the products and less profit made by the producers. This is because of the involvement of middleman to market the products.

“Buddhist products are coming to the Buddhist country is a good thing, we can’t stop it. But to make our products to replace these products is the biggest challenge,” said the Chief Executive Officer of Agency for Promotion of Indigenous Crafts (APIC), Lam Kesang Chhoephel. “We can replace some of the products that are imported but 100 percent we cannot challenge because it’s in huge quantity,” he added.

Most of the products at the craft bazar in Thimphu comes from twelve different clusters of cane and bamboo cluster in Zhemgang, metal work in Pema Gatshel, wood work and lacquering in Tashi Yangtse and wood carving cluster in Thimphu. Providing equipment and working sheds to the cluster are some of the other facilities in place to help reduce import of  products.

“Now APIC is encouraging our artisans by giving them more trainings and also forming the groups. We are trying to have new designs incorporating some of the modern with our traditional designs.

“Encouraging our school leavers and artisans to make their groups and make a sustainable production unit by also making accessibility to the financial support from our financial institutions are others.”

The CEO added that about 90 to 99 percent of the products in the crafts shops in Thimphu are imported. Although the quality and quantity of the indigenous products have improved compared to the past, APIC wants to strengthen it rather than increasing the number of existing clusters.