Guides
Selling from India, buying from India — explained.
Clear, practical answers for the two halves of haat: makers taking their craft to the world, and buyers sourcing the genuine article. No jargon, no fluff.
For makers & exporters
Selling globally from India
- Selling · 8 minBest platforms to sell globally from India (2026)A practical comparison of the best ways to sell internationally from India — global marketplaces, your own store, and export-first platforms — and how to choose.
- Exporting · 9 minHow to export handmade products from India: a step-by-step guideFrom registrations to packing and shipping — a clear, beginner-friendly walkthrough of exporting handmade and handicraft products from India.
- Selling · 7 minHow to start selling internationally from IndiaNew to cross-border selling? A simple plan to take your first international order from India — what to set up, what to price in, and how to build trust with overseas buyers.
- Exporting · 6 minDocuments required to export from India (small-parcel checklist)The paperwork that travels with an export parcel from India — commercial invoice, packing list, shipping bill, and when you also need a certificate of origin or GI certificate.
- Exporting · 5 minWhat is an Import Export Code (IEC), and do you need one?The IEC explained for first-time exporters — what it is, who needs it, what it costs, and how to apply on the DGFT portal.
- Exporting · 6 minHS codes for Indian exports: what they are and how to find yoursA plain-English guide to Harmonized System (HS) codes — why every export needs one, how the digits work, and how to find the right code for handmade Indian products.
- Shipping · 8 minInternational shipping from India: a seller's guideHow to ship products internationally from India — couriers vs. postal, DDP vs. DDU, packing for the journey, and keeping shipping costs from eating your margin.
- Selling · 7 minHow to price handmade products for export from IndiaA pricing framework for exporting handmade goods — cover materials, time, shipping, duties, and fees without underselling your craft to overseas buyers.
- Exporting · 6 minGST on exports for small Indian sellers (zero-rated, LUT)How GST works when you export from India — why exports are zero-rated, what a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) does, and the simple path for small sellers.
- Selling · 6 minHow to photograph handmade products for selling onlinePractical product photography for makers — light, background, angles, and detail shots that make handmade Indian goods sell to buyers who can't touch them.
- Craft & trust · 6 minGI tags explained for artisans: claiming a Geographical IndicationWhat a Geographical Indication (GI) is, which Indian crafts qualify, and what a GI tag means for an artisan selling to the world.
- Getting paid · 7 minHow to get paid by international buyers from IndiaPayment methods, currency conversion, fees, and export proof (FIRC/eBRC) — how money actually reaches an Indian seller from buyers abroad.
For buyers
Buying authentic Indian crafts
- Buying · 6 minWhere to buy authentic Indian handicrafts onlineHow to find genuine, ethically made Indian handicrafts online from anywhere in the world — what to look for, what to avoid, and how to know a piece is the real thing.
- Buying · 6 minHow to identify authentic Indian handicraftsPractical tells for spotting genuine handmade Indian crafts vs. machine-made copies — from weave and glaze to GI marks and honest seller detail.
- Craft guides · 8 minA guide to Indian handwoven textilesBanarasi, Pashmina, Kanjivaram, Chanderi, Ikat and more — a beginner's guide to India's handwoven textiles, where they come from, and how to buy them well.
- Craft guides · 7 minIndian crafts by region: a state-by-state guideA tour of India's craft map — which states are known for which handmade traditions, from Kashmiri Pashmina to Rajasthani blue pottery to Tamil bronze.
- Buying · 6 minImport duties when buying from India: what to expectHow import duties and taxes work when you buy from India — de-minimis thresholds, DDP vs. DDU, and how to avoid a surprise bill at your door.
- Buying · 5 minWhat a GI tag means when you're buyingGeographical Indication (GI) tags, explained for buyers — what the mark guarantees, examples of GI-tagged Indian crafts, and how to verify one.
- Craft guides · 6 minCaring for handmade Indian products: textiles, brass, pottery and moreHow to clean, store, and care for handmade Indian goods — silk and handloom textiles, brass and copper, terracotta and pottery, wood and leather — so they last.
- Craft guides · 6 minA gifting guide to Indian handicraftsThoughtful gift ideas from India's craft traditions — by occasion and recipient — and how to send a handmade gift abroad without customs surprises.