Disclaimer: Originally published in June 2019. It is being republished since it still remains an interesting topic till today.
The iconic Kolhapuri chappals made in the districts of Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangli and Satara in Maharashtra and Dharwad, Belgaum, Bagalkot and Bijapur in Karnataka have been granted a GI tag.
Kolhapuris can be traced back to the 12th-century when the ruler of Karnataka, King Bijjal and his Prime Minister Vishwaguru Basavanna who encouraged the production of these chappals in order to uplift the cobbler community.
What is a GI tag?
GI stands for Geographical Indication, it indicates that the given product originates from a particular place and possesses certain qualities and distinctiveness, owning to its origin.
Having a GI tag is like having a stamp of authenticity. It fetches a higher price in the international market, thus giving a boost to exports and increasing the income of the artisans who produced or manufactured it.
GI tags are given to both, agricultural and manufactured (handicrafts and industrial) products. Thus, the range of products that own a GI tag varies from Darjeeling Tea to Meerut Scissors.
More than 300 such products have a GI tag, here are some such popular products.
Read More: In Pics: History Of The ‘Pant Saree’ Or Chaugoshiya That Rekha Wore To Sonam Kapoor’s Wedding
Image Credits: Google Images
Source: Wikipedia, Money Control, The Hindu
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