Laiphadibi cloth doll gift sets and kits

This small workshop makes Laiphadibi, the traditional Manipuri cloth dolls, and sells them in gift boxes. Lines can include single dolls dressed in a tiny phanek or the stiff potloi dance skirt, boxed sets of two or three dolls, and simple make-your-own kits for schools and hobby classes. Each box carries a short printed note on what the dolls mean in Manipuri homes.

Laiphadibi dolls are Imphal West's One District One Product. Only a handful of skilled makers are left in Manipur, and most dolls are sold loose at local rates. The district also has the state's main airport and Ima Keithel, the women's market where visitors shop for gifts and toys.

You need a room with good light, a few sewing machines, women who can stitch at home once trained, and a steady supply of cloth, cotton, beads and lace. Learn the craft from an experienced maker first, and describe the tradition with respect. The hard part is keeping every doll neat while making enough of them, and pricing to cover slow hand work. Unrest in the state has cut visitor numbers, so do not rely on tourists alone.

Sell through gift shops at the airport and in hotels, Ima Keithel stalls, office and government gifting, craft fairs in other states, and online.