What it is / regional specificity

• Non-ferrous (typically brass/bronze) metal casting done via the ancient lost-wax (cire perdue) method, practiced in clusters like Bikna (Bankura) and Dariyapur in West Bengal, and in Odisha/Chhattisgarh belts.
  
• GI tag: Dokra of West Bengal is a registered Geographical Indication.
  

Exports (where it sits in trade)

• Typically exported under HS 8306 “Bells… statuettes and other ornaments, of base metal.” In 2023 India exported about US$239 million of this category, making it the #2 exporter globally; the US and EU are major destinations.
  

Quality & strengths (buyer-relevant)

• Distinctive hand-built wax threads → fine lattice textures, folk motifs; each piece is one-off (no molds retained). This “primitive simplicity” is a big appeal in global decor.
  
• Cluster reputation: Bankura/Bikna and Dwar(i)yapur artisans are long-standing; GI recognition adds provenance assurance for buyers.
  

Compliance pointers (when exporting)

• If pieces include jewellery or skin-contact fittings: check REACH Annex XVII for nickel release, lead and cadmium restrictions; EU buyers often ask for these test reports even on brass craft.
• For children’s products (e.g., trinkets marketed for kids), the US CPSIA lead limits apply (≤100 ppm in accessible substrates; ≤90 ppm in surface coatings).

Terracotta craft — Bankura (West Bengal), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh)

What it is / regional specificity

• Bankura Panchmura Terracotta (famed long-neck “Bankura Horse”): registered GI; symbol of India’s rural handicraft aesthetics and logo of the former All India Handicrafts Board.
  
• Gorakhpur Terracotta (UP) also holds a GI tag, known for distinctive natural color and forms.
  

Exports (where it sits in trade)

• Decorative terracotta typically moves under HS 6913 “Statuettes and other ornamental ceramic articles.” In 2023 India exported about US$15.6 m of ornamental ceramics overall; within HS 6913.90 (non-porcelain) India shipped about US$13.3 m, led by sales to the US and Gulf markets

Quality & strengths (buyer-relevant)

• Material character: regional clays in Bankura yield the signature red-brown fired tone and glossy burnish; horses are hand-built in multiple hollow parts (ears, neck, legs) and assembled—this construction detail is a known hallmark.
  
• Cultural value: the Bankura Horse is an iconic collectible with strong story value for premium retail.
  

Compliance pointers (when exporting)

• For decorative, non-food terracotta: general product safety (no sharp edges; stable bases).
  
• If any items are food-contact (tableware), EU requires testing per the ceramics lead/cadmium migration directive (84/500/EEC and updates), often requested by EU buyers even when glazes are not used.
  

Quilts (focus: Jaipuri Razai) — Jaipur/Sanganer/Bagru & industrial hubs like Panipat

What it is / regional specificity

• Jaipuri Razai (Jaipur, Rajasthan): ~280-year tradition of hand-carded cotton (dhunai) fillings that make quilts ultra-light yet warm; commonly paired with hand-block-printed cotton shells (Sanganer/Bagru styles). Government of Rajasthan documents the tradition and process.
  
• The dhunai/cotton-carding step is the craft’s “secret” for loft and warmth; heritage sources and craft dossiers note the week-long carding and feather-light weights
  
• For volume home-textiles (incl. quilts/comforters), Panipat (Haryana) is a major Indian home-furnishing cluster serving export buyers.

Exports (where it sits in trade)

• Quilts/bedspreads typically classify under HS 9404.40. In 2023 India exported ~US$101 million of quilts & bedspreads; ~US$75 m went to the United States, followed by Canada and the UK.
  

Quality & strengths (buyer-relevant)

• Value prop: very light GSM with high thermal comfort; artisanal hand-quilting patterns add surface interest for premium retail. Govt. page highlights the lightweight warmth and variations (cotton/velvet/silk).

Compliance pointers (when exporting)

• EU: many buyers require ISO/EN 12952 (Parts 1 & 2) ignitability tests for bedding (smouldering cigarette & match-flame).
  
• Chemicals: REACH Annex XVII Entry 43 restricts certain azo dyes in textiles (30 mg/kg aromatic amines threshold) — common buyer requirement in EU.
  
• US (kids’ products): if quilts are marketed for children, CPSIA lead limits apply (≤100 ppm total lead in accessible parts; ≤90 ppm in coatings).
  

Quick HS code guide

• Dokra/Dhokra (decor/statues, base metal): HS 8306.
  
• Terracotta decor: HS 6913.
  
• Quilts/bedspreads: HS 9404.40 (within HS 9404 bedding articles).
  

Why these are “specific to India & the region”

• Dokra: centuries-old tribal metal idiom concentrated in eastern/central India; GI status in West Bengal cements geographic identity and technique lineage.
• Terracotta (Bankura/Gorakhpur): region-specific clays & forms (e.g., Bankura Horse proportions/assembly; Gorakhpur’s practice) and GI protection anchor authenticity to those districts.
• Jaipuri Razai: Jaipur-area dhunai craft and block-print ecosystems (Sanganer/Bagru) create a supply-chain “micro-climate” that’s hard to replicate elsewhere; officially profiled by the state.