The Art of Gifting: How Indian Folk Art Can Make Your Presents Stand Out

Gift-giving traditions are how we stay connected in our communities and share joy and a sense of belongingness. Yet every special occasion has us once again looking for inspiration and gift ideas to make the experience special and memorable. Finding a thoughtful gift can be difficult, so here we are to break down what makes a gift stand out and give you some gift ideas that combine festive joy with folk art, and make your gifts truly unforgettable!

What makes a good gift?

When thinking of the perfect gift, there are many directions you may go and many factors you may consider. Is this gift something they can use? Is it beautiful and eye-catching? Is it interesting? And, as we become more aware of environmental issues: Is it sustainable? Is it made with safe materials?

These are a lot of things to consider at once! It can make the decision difficult for anyone. But these are important questions to ask indeed, and for those doing their due diligence when selecting a gift, we offer a catch-all solution to all these dilemmas: Indian Folk Art.

But how does folk art solve my problem?

In a world of mass-produced items and minimalist aesthetics, there are producers who have remained authentic and unique in their art style: your local artisans and folk artists! Too often when looking for a gift in stores at the mall, at the market, or online, I find myself thinking “But what if the person I’m buying for already has this? Or already has something similar to this?” This is an unfortunate inevitability when the markets are full of homogenised products circulated over and over; it is hard to pick out something truly unique. So, let me list some of the ways that folk art products can help you solve your gifting dilemmas:

1. Unique Aesthetics: Indian folk arts have a long and rich history that comes with specific aesthetic styles particular to the traditions they are a part of. Folk artists specialise in their particular art forms that are often detailed and time-consuming. These mavericks don’t work in accordance with market expectations, and instead are dedicated to their unique skills. How does this relate to gifting? Well, folk art is painstakingly and manually produced onto each piece created by the artisans. These items are not mass-produced, meaning every piece is different and unique! Moreover the authentic work of folk artists cannot simply be reproduced as it is a specialised skill. Within each piece is the legacy of a long-standing tradition that depicts motifs and aesthetics telling a story of great importance to their culture. For instance, Alokya works with artisans who create beautiful Pattachitra art from West Bengal. You can read more about Pattachitra here!
2. Great Utility: A thoughtful gift is one which will add some form of utility to the receiver’s life. Handicrafts can be the perfect place to look for this since artisans are often concerned with the utility of their products, creating items of daily use in the household. You will find shining examples of this in Alokya’s own catalogue, with products ranging from kitchenware to multi-utility items such as platters, holders, boxes, and even common-use but memorable items like scented candles and bookmarks. The medium of handicrafts lends itself well to such considerations, meaning that you are sure to find something of great use when looking within this category!
3. Sustainable: Being sustainable and environment-friendly has become an important consideration for all of us in the present climate. Often the person you are gifting to would also have these preoccupations and will be touched by the added attentiveness on your part for partaking in gifts that are sustainable. Folk artisans traditionally use natural materials to create their products, giving you a guaranteed avenue for environmentally friendly gifting. Moreover, if buying from producers that are committed to sustainability goals you can find products with natural eco-friendly packaging as well. This makes for a unique and pleasant unboxing experience, such as with Alokya’s scented candles that come in jute bags or wooden boxes giving an added quaint feel to your gift!
4. Conversation Starter: If you have ever watched and waited excitedly while your friend unwrapped a gift you brought them, you know that a gift is something to talk about and chat over. This is often one of the sources of the pressure to find a good gift; after all, if the gift is boring, there is nothing to talk about! But you just can’t get more interesting and intriguing than handmade products with unique folk art on them. 

These gifts will prompt your curiosity and get people talking about the artists, the cultural traditions, and the particular folk groups that the art forms belong to. Each folk style is unique, and India is a land of thousands of folk groups with unique expressions and art styles. Behind each hand-crafted piece is a story, a legacy, and a long-standing cultural history. Gifting such handicrafts piques people’s interests and gives you something to talk about. Feeling connected to a rich heritage can be a powerful experience, and learning about new art forms feels intellectually invigorating for both the giver and the receiver. We highly recommend getting your friends and family hand-crafted products to be able to spread this joy and spark a stimulating conversation with your loved ones!

1. Empowers Artisans: When the gift you receive can contribute to a good cause, that makes it all the more thoughtful. This spirit of generosity makes gift-giving a heart warming experience for everyone. The more you receive, the more you wish to give back! We are all hearing about the importance of buying from small local businesses nowadays, so let’s talk about your social impact when you buy handicrafts from folk artists. 

The market today is full of mass-produced homogeneous products. The pace at which these are produced and the trends change is hard to keep up with if you create anything original and unique. This is unfortunately hitting local folk artists the hardest, who create detailed artworks by hand and find the market for their produce slowly dying off. But this isn’t just a market loss - it’s a loss of heritage. As it becomes less feasible to keep up this production we start to lose the expertise and artistic skills that are held by such artisans. These are unique and unreproducible art forms which belong to particular communities and folk groups. When we lose these artists, we also lose a long cultural heritage that will slowly die out if not protected.

When you buy products created by local artisans, you engage with the communities meaningfully and help them sustain their livelihood. You help to keep these art forms alive! So in the spirit of giving, get your loved loans gifts that also help empower artisans. Let your gift be one that helps preserve our rich cultural heritage. We are doing our part too, and you can read more about that here.

How Alokya goes a step ahead

These were some of the ways that buying folk art products can help you solve gifting dilemmas. But why choose Alokya in particular? Here is how Alokya goes above and beyond in our care and thoughtfulness with each product:

1. Vegan: All our products are fully vegan! We use all-natural materials and are a sustainable brand. Even so, when buying for a friend who is vegan, or an acquaintance you may not know well, you may wish to avoid products that use the wrong materials. With Alokya, you don’t need to think twice. You can browse through our website and pick any product at all and be well assured that it will be safe for vegans.
2. Pet-friendly: Anyone with pets would know how conscious you have to be of products at home with furry friends who can come in contact with them. Alokya products avoid common allergens, using materials like bamboo, soy wax, jute, and seed paper in our products. Our products are friendly to humans and pets alike, so you can spruce up your home without worrying too much about the well-being of your pets.
3. Working with Artisans: Alokya is dedicated to first and foremost platforming our talented and hardworking artisans. We work directly with local artisans creating Pattachitra art, bamboo-weaving, and terracotta products. Our mission is to empower these artisans, as they are the lifeblood of Alokya. You can find more about our work with artisans here and on our social media. When buying from Alokya, you can be assured that your contributions are going towards uplifting the artisans who created your products.
4. Women-led: Alokya is a women-owned and operated brand with values of female empowerment deeply embedded in the daily operations of its work. Women entrepreneurs are bringing fresh perspectives to brands and businesses every day, and we are no different with our team of talented and diligent women leading this ship. We also work with women artisans to provide them with employment opportunities and help them keep their talents and artistic skills alive.
5. Gift combos for Easy Gifting: Alokya makes gifting easy for you at every turn. Other than being a one-stop solution to your gifting needs that answers all questions you may have while selecting a gift, we also curate gift combos and hampers that you can easily choose for a thoughtful and rounded gift. Our combos are themed according to designs and utility, making it easy to select the perfect combo for every need.

Some Gift Ideas For You!

Now that we have talked about what makes Indian folk art, and especially Alokya, a great choice for gifting, here are some ideas for gifting for any occasion:

1. Scented Candles: Scented candles are versatile gifts that work for many occasions. Whether it be festive gifting, gifting a self-care pack, a housewarming gift, or gifting for an acquaintance you don’t know too well, scented candles make for trendy gifts that will bring joy to your receiver and remind them of your thoughtfulness every time they light up that aromatic candle.

Alokya’s signature scented candles will help your gift stand out with their terracotta jars that have beautiful and vibrant Pattachitra art done on them, giving them a unique aesthetic in a sea of minimalist products. The bold and beautiful colours also work wonderfully with the festive opulence of Indian festivals, or even the joy of a housewarming. Our scents are inspired by heady aromas of the natural world, to take you away from the din and fuss of everyday life if even for a moment.

1. Home Decor with Utility: When considering home decor items for gifting, the issue of utility can make it hard to select the right gift. Alokya products offer great utility combined with a vibrant flair in every piece. Products like Multipurpose Holders, beautifully painted Bamboo Boxes, and eye-catching Tissue Boxes can help you liven up your living space while also serving to organise your stuff and create a neat and refreshing environment! These products also work great to pair with smaller trinkets when gifting to go that extra mile when arranging a gift.
2. Stylish Kitchenware: Kitchenware will always be something your loved ones can use, and something that will catch your eye when dining as a guest with your host presenting refreshments in uniquely styled kitchenware. Alokya offers a range of stylish dining products that make for great gifts for festive seasons and housewarming parties. A great option is our wooden coasters with beautiful Pattachitra prints. To complement your festive gifts you can use our wooden dry fruit boxes to fill with dry fruits or other gifts. Alokya’s napkin holders, wooden platters, and trays can similarly bring a burst of colour and tradition to your kitchen and make it stand out to your guests on any occasion.
3. For the Studious: We all have a friend or family member who is famously a bookworm, and eventually giving them books starts becoming too predictable. What to add to your birthday gifts for the studious loved one in your life? Why not try bookmarks with folk art designs? Office organisers like pen stands can prove useful for your desk at home or at work, and bring a touch of brightness to an otherwise dry workstation. So next time you are getting books for your favourite bookworm, consider pairing it with a bookmark and pen stand from Alokya’s collection!
4. Hamper it Up: Who doesn’t love a good hamper? Receiving a gift is exciting. Unboxing the gift to find it contains many different little gifts is even more exciting! Hampers are a great gifting idea for when you aren’t sure whether you’re gifting too small. Alokya has prepared many great hampers and combos for you to ease up the work of putting a gift hamper together yourself. You can find kitchenware hampers that put together coasters, trays, and organisers with similar motifs painted on them to create a set. Or you can combine scented candles with bamboo boxes and bookmarks for a gift with something utilitarian and something comforting together. Head over to our hamper collection and find the right choice for you!

Conclusion

Selecting an appropriate gift is no easy task. No matter how many times we do it, the same questions and dilemmas will inevitably stump us again. Your answers to these questions may keep changing, but as we have made the case above, it makes these decisions easier to have a category to search within and a place to go to. Indian folk arts come from a rich tradition which deserves to be preserved by us through exchanging these handicrafts and talking about them with our loved ones. But further still, they are an avenue for gifting that you can always rely on to answer the common issues of novelty, style, utility, and sustainability. We hope that Indian folk art, and Alokya, can be a place you can always turn to for a one-stop solution to all your gifting needs.