Artisan Box by Luxurion World is a monthly subscription box bringing you handcrafted lifestyle items from India. Each month, the products will come from a different Indian state. November’s products are from Jammu and Kashmir.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Artisan Box by Luxurion World
The Cost: $44.92 a month (save with longer subscriptions, and please note that there may be fluctuations in price due to exchange rates)
I think they do a great job with the packaging. It’s like opening a gift. FYI, this is the November box. With this subscription, shipping is later in the month and you will get it the next month because these packages come all the way from India.
Good to Know: This box ships via registered mail so a signature is required upon delivery. If you are not going to be home, you may want to have it delivered to your workplace, although I have had good luck signing the slip of paper the mail carrier leaves and requesting redelivery through the USPS website.
The Products: 3-5 lifestyle items handcrafted by artisans in India. The items come from local craftsmen and small businesses and produced in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner. A large percentage of the proceeds of Artisan Box are distributed to the artisans who make the products. Cost savings for the consumer are achieved through volume purchases and direct payment to the artisans without any middle agencies. This structure allows for improvement of the artisans’ socioeconomic conditions.
Ships to: Worldwide; $20 cost to the US
Check out the Artisan Subscription Box Directory for similar boxes!
I think Artisan Box by Luxurion World has one of the best information cards out there – full-color photos, printed on really nice card stock. Many products from the box can be found in their store. All values are taken from the information card.
Walnut Wood Carving Key Holder – Value $10
Kashmir is known for walnut wood carving. This piece is hand carved and incorporates forms and motifs that have evolved over centuries. My keychain has so much junk hanging off it that it would totally obscure the artistry here, so I think I am going to hang some of my malas from this instead!
Papier Mache Christmas Decorations (2 pieces) – Value $12
The art of making pieces like these was introduced in Kashmir in the 15th century by a Kashmiri prince who had been imprisoned in Central Asia. This particular version of papier mache originated in Persia. I don’t have a Christmas tree to put them on (four cats and a clumsy Rottweiler make that a bad idea) but I am definitely going to hang them somewhere because they are quite pretty.
Kashmiri Saffron (0.5 grams) – Value $15
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and this is a pretty generous quantity. Kashmiri saffron has a stronger flavor than Spanish saffron (which seems to be the easiest kind to find in the US). We are planning to make a vegetarian paella this week with the saffron (not an Indian dish, I know, but it jumped out at me from a cookbook I was looking at). Sorry if the picture looks blurry, but this wasn’t a huge item to begin with.
Pure Silk Scarf – Value $30
This is lightweight and 100% silk; I love the vibrant colors. I have only recently started wearing scarves so I don’t have too many yet, and this will get a lot of uses.
Aari Work Tea Cozy – Value $15
It’s a little hard to tell from the photo, but this tea cozy is pretty big. I think it is a perfect excuse to buy a larger teapot! Aari embroidery is performed by pulling the thread through from the back side of the fabric using a little hook and is similar to tambour embroidery and has some aspects in common with crewel embroidery, as well.
Verdict: I calculated a value of $82 for the November Artisan Box from Luxurion World. They promise a monthly value of at least $70 and they exceeded that this month. I say this every month, but I actually think some of the items are probably worth more than the cost listed on the Luxurion World site – or at least, they would sell for more, individually, in the US. So the actual value may be even higher! I love the craftsmanship and that this subscription supports the artisans plus the items are beautiful and I find the stories of their creation quite interesting. I am also learning a lot about the various regions of India and what types of traditional crafts are practiced in each of them.
This is one of my favorite boxes to get each month. It is always so nicely packaged and the contents are beautiful and unique. I wouldn't even know to look for some of these types of items in the first place, but I have learned about all sorts of rare arts and crafts with this subscription.
What do you think of the November 2015 Artisan Box from Luxurion World?
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