By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
Handmade products have a captive market among people who appreciate art, according to QatArt Handmade Community member and artistic designer Ibtihaj Elmorr.
“Customers looking for the handmade stuff know what they are buying, they recognise it takes time and a lot of energy to finish one item and it is something that you cannot find everyday,” she said while speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of a bazaar at the Ritz Carlton Doha yesterday.
Elmorr was answering a question about how QatArt products compete with mass produced items.
Members of QatArt Handmade Community are expected to participate next month in the annual Doha Mums market, one of the biggest bazaars in the city.
More than 200 vendors gather and sell different kinds of products to thousands of visitors at the bazaar every year.
“Each handmade product is unique even if you try to copy the same piece,” Elmorr pointed out.
Besides the quality, the artistic designer said they offer unique products, made with creativity and passion, at reasonable prices.
Handmade products may cost a bit more but people who appreciate art would not haggle about the price, according to Elmorr. Prices usually depend on the materials used for the product.
QatArt members create their items in Qatar and buy materials either locally or online from abroad. Others get them from home during their annual vacation.
Members constantly seek to enhance their artistic skills, Elmorr said.
“Two years now, in every bazaar, we surprise each other with different designs and new techniques, and we learn from each other like how to display our items,” she added. “The way you display your piece you give it more value.”
QatArt members extensively promote their products online. Doaa Ryad, who sells colourful children’s clothes, told Gulf Times that they usually do not display all their products in bazaars but they can be seen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Doha Mums market might be the last bazaar for QatArt members before they take a break for the summer.
“We all applied for the said bazaar but we are not expecting that all of us will be there,” said Elmorr. “Organisers try to always have different vendors every year and some come from Dubai.” The venue is at Radisson Blu hotel.
The QatArt bazaar yesterday showcased numerous art and handmade items. QatArt artistic designer Ibtihaj Elmorr shows her handmade products. PICTURES:
