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Photo: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

SILKEN SPLENDOUR No one can resist the lure of silk

The National Handloom Development Corporation Limited provides the perfect excuse this time around. The NHDC, on behalf of the Ministry of Textiles, has organised “Silk Fab 2008”.

The expo has silk products from 15 States, with the participation of more than 80 handloom production units, out of which some are the Primary Handloom Weavers Cooperative Societies. Silk saris, dress materials and furnishings are on offer.

The silk expo is off to a great start, with an average of more than Rs. 10 lakh in sales, everyday. Each of the stalls have been making between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 60,000, each day and more than a 1,000 people have been pouring in each day. M.R.S. Raghavan, Deputy Manager, NHDC Bangalore, believes that things can only get better from this point. “Sales are bound to increase over the weekend, as more people will come. We all hope that Silk Fab attains its target of Rs. five crore,” he said.

The exhibition has a wide range of silk saris, like gadwals, Dharmawarams and Pochampallys from Andhra Pradesh, Kanjchivaram silks from Tamil Nadu, moonga silk from Assam, Rajasthan’s bandhej, balucharis and tangails from West Bengal, tussar, Madhubanis and kantha from Bihar, tribal works and Kosa silk from Chattisgarh, jamdanis and jamawars from UP, Paithanis and Pune saris from Maharashtra, Gathjoras and Patolas of Gujarat, bomkais and Sambhalpuris from Orissa, printed silk saris and dress materials from Jammu and Kashmir, kasuti embroidery work, Chintamani silks and the state’s famed Bangalore silk from Karnataka, and many more diverse varieties from across the country.

Sanjay Singal, a handloom weaver from Maharashtra says: “We have over 15 different fabrics on display, but we concentrate mainly on tussar silk fabrics. What makes our product really unique, is the fact that it is washable at home, which is not possible with most silk products. We have a great variety of block prints.”

With over 92 stalls, the silk expo offers a breathtaking variety of designs, from various traditional backgrounds of the country.

Pure silk saris, or pattus, are the most sought after commodity at the expo, and the Kanchivaram and Gadwal saris in particular, are a rage. Butter silk from Uttar Pradesh and the tanchois and jamawars designs from Madhya Pradesh, are also doing well, in terms of sales.

The expo also has some of the age-old traditional works such as kalamkari and baluchari.

Amitha Prashanth, a home maker and visitor to the exhibition, who expects “to see something new every time”, said she was very impressed with the variety on display. “This is very different from going to a showroom. Here we actually get to interact with the weavers directly, and this way, we can have more insight about the fabric and a better understanding of things. Plus, it actually gives you the feeling that you are supporting someone deserving.”

The exhibition cum sale is on at the Basava Bhavan, and will continue till February 10. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entry is free.

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