Success stories

Khotkovskaya Factory of Carved Art Products: from Ancient traditions to international recognition

The Khotkovskaya Factory of Carved Art Products is the successor to the centuries-old traditions of Russian bone carving art. The history of the factory dates back to the 15th century, to the origins of craft in the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

In the 19th century, various workshops united together and gradually evolved into an artel, a vocational school, and finally a factory. In the 20th century, combining the traditions of the Abramtsevo school of carvers with the art of the masters of the Russian North and Siberia, the Khotkovskaya Factory reached the peak of popularity. Its products made from mammoth and walrus bones were known far beyond the USSR.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the factory experienced difficulties, but in 2013, production was revived. Today, thanks to modern management, advanced equipment and talented craftsmen, the enterprise is thriving again, producing a wide range of products, from jewelry to sculptures and interior compositions.

A special place in production is occupied by carved art products made from mammoth tusk, for which the factory recently received Made in Russia reliability certificates.

“Support for unique artistic crafts, such as the bone carving of the Khotkovskaya Factory, is a contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and growth of country's export potential. We are proud of the opportunity to contribute to the prosperity of such unique enterprises. For these purposes, in the expiring year, REC, together with its partners, within the framework of the voluntary Made in Russia certification system were able to develop a certification scheme for unique artistic products, which, due to the limited scope of accreditation, cannot undergo standard laboratory tests and receive conformity documents," Alexey Solodov, Vice President of the Russian Export Center (REC, part of VEB.RF).

REC does not carry out any additional checks to issue a free Made in Russia certificate. The application process is simple and convenient: you need to register on the REC website, attach the necessary documents in electronic form and sign the automatically generated questionnaire. More information about Made in Russia can be found on REC’s website.

"We consider Made in Russia labeling of our products, which is a natural and organic step. The company is focused on export. So we believe that our products, created with unique technologies and from Russian raw materials, will be in demand in any market. We rely on state support, because we preserve and disseminate our cultural code, complying with "On folk art and crafts" law”, Vitaly Khrulyov, General Director of the factory.

Since 2013, the factory has been exporting raw materials – mammoth tusk. In 2014, the factory started to actively explore of the Chinese market. Employees participated in exhibitions in China, Japan and Vietnam. A special range of products for China was developed. The factory studied demand and prices. Today, a subsidiary company has been registered in the PRC and an application for trademark has been filed.

"China is our main market in terms of capacity and value. We also plan to reach the markets of Vietnam, and other countries of the far abroad. The availability of our raw materials and a unique artistic style give the Khotkovskaya factory an advantage over competitors, both Russian and Chinese," Vitaly Khrulyov General Director.

Cooperation with the Russian Export Center, which began six years ago, played an important role in the development of the factory's export. Thus, the Khotkovskaya Factory actively uses the REC services through My Export platform, including participation in exhibitions (China-Russia EXPO, CIIE), festivals and fairs in Chengdu and Shenyang, enjoys consultations on e-commerce, analytical and training materials.

“REC helps us participate in major international exhibitions. It is sometimes impossible for a small company to participate in a large exhibition in another country," Vitaly Khrulyov.
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