Laura Ashley, an international retail chain is keenly interested in marketing Malaysian handicrafts, informed Ibrahim Ismail, Promotion and Marketing Development Director of Handicrafts Corporation. Laura Ashley is a company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Two representatives of the company visited Malaysia to explore retail prospects of 300 new handicraft items produced by 19 Malaysian handicraft entrepreneurs. Ismail informed that the representatives were impressed with handicrafts made from ceramic, forest products and batiks of Malaysia.
Malaysian handicrafts are seeing expansion in overseas markets as they are able to attract new buyers. They are already being sold at Harrods of London. 84 handicraft items produced by 16 local entrepreneurs have also been selected for the Interior Lifestyle Exposition in Tokyo from June 3 to 5.