The reliable pattern worldwide: the closer a shop sits to a famous attraction, the more likely its handicrafts are imported and marked up. For authentic pieces, head to where locals shop, such as neighbourhood markets, artisan quarters, and cooperative shops that are often government-certified to sell genuine regional crafts.
A few tells help you spot the real thing. Genuine handmade items show small irregularities, while identical rows of perfect pieces usually mean factory production. Sellers who can explain how something was made, and ideally who made it, are a good sign; workshops where you can watch artisans at work are the best sign of all. Fixed-price craft cooperatives sometimes cost a bit more than street stalls but the money reaches the maker.
Ask your hotel staff, hosts, or local colleagues where they would buy a wedding gift, not where tourists go; the answer is usually a different place entirely. And check customs rules before buying anything made of wood, plant material, shell, or animal products, since some souvenirs are restricted or seized at borders.