Bhubneswar: The 10th Cottonfab Expo 2018 organised by the “Awadh Hathakarga, Hastshilp evam Gramodyag Samiti” kicked off at the Exhibition Ground here Wednesday. This annual exhibition-cum-sale makes for a good family outing as well as shopping. The event was inaugurated by the BJD MP Prasanna Kumar Patasani.
This year, the exhibition-cum-sale has thrown open a vast spectrum of rare exclusive dupattas and stoles, skirts, tops and kurtis. Weavers from as many as 23 states – including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, are participating in the expo, said fair in-charge Javed Alam. Over 150 stalls displaying a wide range of handloom materials have been put up for sale at the event
This year, Kalamkari vegetable dye of Andhra Pradesh is one of the USPs of the expo. Alam also said as the expo was being held with Durga Puja around the corner so they are expecting higher sales. The expo will end October 2.
The objective of this expo is to promote the artisans and the weavers.
There are jewellery kiosks, too, at the expo. Bangles in lacquer and glass as well as metal and wood and bracelets are of customers’ interest. Handbags and footwear, especially jutis, are also available in various designs.
This expo is something for all age-groups, said Nagendra Oberio, a weaver from Punjab.
