Unleashing the beauty and craftsmanship of Bhutan with our stunning handmade products from rural artisans.
HANDICRAFTS ASSOCIATION OF BHUTAN
Experience unparalleled excellence and commitment to providing quality services.
The Handicraft Association of Bhutan (HAB) is a registered Civil Society Organization (CSO) under the Civil Society Organization Act of Bhutan 2007 with a clear mission of promoting sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience in the Bhutanese handicraft sector. HAB actively supports local artisans by providing them with resources, training, and policy interventions to help improve their skills and increase their chances of success in both the local communities and the tourism industry.
HAB is dedicated to establishing a strong network for Bhutanese artisans that guarantees fair compensation for their handcrafted products and improved market accessibility. The organization not only invests in training and resources to enhance the quality of handmade crafts, but also advocates for the sector through dialogue with policymakers. HAB aims to raise the competitiveness of Bhutanese artisans in the global market.
HAB plays a critical role in the Bhutanese handicraft industry, with a network of 7,500 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) across the country. This network includes businesses led by both women (5250) and men (2250), both formal and informal, and 195 affiliated stores exhibiting more than 100 unique handcrafted products.
Our Products
13 ARTS & CRAFTS OF BHUTAN
Treasury of Artistic Riches and Cultural Legacy
The origins of Bhutanese arts and crafts go back to the 15th century. Two hundred years later, in the 17th century, they were first categorized as Zorig Chusum or the 13 arts and crafts of Bhutan. Today, this invaluable tradition and heritage is best preserved in the rural areas where artisans inherit the skills passed down through generations like a precious heirloom.
Even today, in a remote hamlet called Khoma in Lhuentse, girls as young as eight learn the art of weaving Kisuthara or silk patterns. As they grow up, their skills translate into elaborate magic. In rural Trashiyangtse, the exquisite wooden bowls chiseled from the burl of trees are a painstaking work of craft that are also associated with healing spiritual properties. Elsewhere in Bhutan, there is an artist, with a brush in hand, meticulously working on a thangka or religious scroll with the minutest details of symmetry in mind.
News & Updates
Celebrating National Pride: 31,500 Bags of Joy to Commemorate the National Day
EU Switch Asia Project Passes with Flying Colors: Result Oriented Monitoring (ROM) Review a Huge Success
Discover Bhutan’s Hidden Gems with the Launch of the “Uncharted Eastern Districts Tourism Attraction Book” by the SHINE Project
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