Indian handmade sector set for transformation
A world leader in handwoven carpets, Obeetee is a dynamic, creative and ethical company that is driven by design excellence, quality craftsmanship and process innovation. The business is centred around a sustainable future and inclusive growth for those associated with the company. Founded as Oakley Bowden & Taylor in 1920, Obeetee is one of the largest handmade rugmakers in India and one of the oldest handwoven rug companies in the world. Rudra Chaterjee, chairman, Obeetee, spoke to Fibre2Fashion post the launch of second edition of its Proud to be Indian (PTBI) series.
Obeetee will complete a century in 2020. What has been the growth story since inception?
Obeetee is the largest handmade rug producer in India and one of the oldest handwoven rug companies in the world. It is a dynamic, creative and ethical company that is driven by design excellence, quality craftsmanship and process innovation. Founded as Oakley Bowden and Taylor in 1920, Obeetee has grown to 1,000 employees in India and around the world and works with more than 25,000 independent artisans in Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh who are engaged in weaving and processing Obeetee. Today, for close to 100 years, Obeetee carpets have infused colour, vitality and creativity into homes, hotels, offices and palaces; they adorn illustrious and historic properties worldwide. The Rashtrapati Bhavan is home to two majestic Obeetee rugs-the bigger one measuring 452 sq m and containing billions of intricate knots. Our consumers and our weaving community lie at the heart of everything we do.
How big is the design team at Obeetee? How different are products in terms of design and quality for export and in India?
Our designers are the backbone of the rug creation process. They have an intimate understanding of the weaving medium and an in-depth knowledge of art and design, both historical and contemporary. We send our top designers all over the world for research and inspiration, and they return to our studios in India and New York with fresh perspectives on traditional crafts. They push the boundaries of colour, texture and pattern to bring to life visual masterpieces, making authentic, handwoven designs accessible to the rest of the world.
What are the activities planned at Obeetee for the next two years?
The plan for the future is to continue to do what we do well and further develop our lines, while also still focusing on the manufacturing. Our products are always of the highest quality and made to ethical standards, and we want to increase our collaboration with designers across the globe. To date, we have collaborated with designers in the UK, the US and Germany and in India we worked with designers like Tarun Tahiliani for the first edition of 'Proud to be Indian' and recently Abraham & Thakore for the second edition. Each of these collections express the unique sensibilities of their designers.
Obeetee is largely under-marketed and less known in India. How big are your expansion plans for the Indian market?
We see the Indian market as underdeveloped; and, yes, we are working to grow recognition and secure placements with key retailers.
How has been the brand's experience in India and in the international market? Are you planning to open stores in India?
The demand for carpets has traditionally been much greater in colder countries, and the tradition of woollen carpets in India has always been as an export. There has been definitely an increase in domestic business in the home sector in general, and interest in carpets for consumers is evolving within the country. We have always had institutional clients, such as Oberoi Hotels, but even individual customers have begun asking for Obeetee's high quality products. At this point, our global sales are through our New York office and we have representatives in Germany and the UK. Our new collection should be very popular with the Indian market.
As India's economy continues to grow, weaving carpets will become too expensive. So, what is the future for handmade carpets in India and in the international market?
We are focused on the present and future where demand will still be strong. As with all businesses, the handmade carpet sector will go through a transformation, but we are prepared to meet those challenges with innovative solutions-ones that build on the strength of what we already have- talented, creative, loyal employees and artisans, state-of-the-art equipment and processes and a deep and abiding commitment to ethical standards and environmental responsibility.
How has the handmade and hand-tufted carpet market of India evolved? What kind of challenges do you foresee in the future?
The quality control has been greatly enhanced with improved technology. Every Obeetee product now carries a digital fingerprint telling when it is loomed, and where. Even if your carpet contains over 400 knots per square inch and takes six weavers a year to finish, Obeetee quality control experts watch every step of the way. At the touch of a computer key, we can track its buyer, design and loom owner's name (along with the names of his family). Progress is monitored on a real-time basis; so, the latest updates are always available. The in-house laboratory tests every wool shipment to ensure it meets stringent quality standards. Going forward we expect the technologies to continue to improve and the global economy to continue to provide opportunities and challenges. The growing affluence of the Indian consumer means a larger market for our products.
At present, Obeetee provides employment to over 25,000 carpet weavers from villages in and around Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district. Are you likely to spread out to other places?
Our craftspeople are the cornerstone of our business, and many of them are fifth and sixth generation weavers. As the business grows, we will grow with it, but responsibly. We insist on favourable working conditions and a zero-tolerance policy that hires only those above the age of 16, even though the government limit is 14. We are the first company in the industry to achieve the SA8000 standard, the world's preeminent certification of social standards-from working hours and collective bargaining, to workers' safety and health. We also have a groundbreaking women weavers programme that has trained 350 so far in the craft and support local schools.
How is the brand protecting and encouraging Indian art and craftsmanship?
Obeetee allows equality and creative freedom to all its employees. Our designers and artisans have the liberty to execute designs which reflect global trends and embody the impeccable quality for which Obeetee is known.
Have Brexit and Trump's presidency had any impact on the exports?
They have not affected our exports significantly to date.
You launched the second edition of the Proud to be Indian series with Abraham & Thakore. Tell us about the collaboration.
The collection draws on the rich repertoire of Indian textile tradition with a strong respect for material, craft and form, while expressing a quiet and modern design aesthetic. Inspirations include the borders of vintage saris from Kanchipuram, block prints from Sanganer and the traditional tie-and-dye bandhani from Mandvi in Kutch. The geometry of double ikat telia rumals seamlessly unifies with the block prints and tie-dye telling the tale of quintessential Indian textiles. Designs based on calligraphy display the technical virtuosity of a hand-knotted carpet, where millions of threads are individually knotted together to create the complex surface of matt and sheen.
What is the USP of your designs?
The USP of the carpets are three main points: our designs, process innovations, and craftspeople. We have the greatest in-house capabilities of any rug manufacturer in India. Obeetee rugs are renowned across the world for their distinctive designs and impeccable quality. We fuse centuries-old carpet making skills with modern design techniques to create carpets of unique patterns, vivid colours-a choice of more than 4,000-and innovative textures. Some of our rugs have as many as 460 knots per square inch. So, a 9x12 foot carpet comes to you with nearly six-and-a-half million knots! That's where our weavers' skills come in-handed down through generations, our weavers bring the carpets to life.
How is the organisation committed towards sustainability?
We use safe dyes and chemicals, and we were the first in the industry to set up a water effluent treatment plant, helping to protect the surrounding countryside, and air pollution control systems. Our environment-friendly power systems run mainly on gas derived from biomass, and we contribute to healthy communities by planting trees and developing parks.
How has been the response to the 'Proud to be Indian'?
Under PTBI collection, the first series was designed by Tarun Tahiliani which received a great response. The collection was also launched in New York at ABC Carpet & Home to much fanfare and much interest from buyers. The second edition is in collaboration with Abraham & Thakore. Each rug design continues the exploration of developing a quiet and modern design voice while simultaneously drawing on the rich traditional vocabulary of Indian design and craft.
What is next in the series?
That's a surprise for now! (RR)
How are the exports for Obeetee? Which are the factors that make Obeetee tick in the global market?
Trade regulations, exchange rates, energy costs and a healthy economy in general are the few factors. Our products are a luxury, not a necessity; so, disposable income is an important factor.
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