An urge to be part of the trendy, to elicit the ‘wow’ factor from people in a crowd is second nature to everyone, not only women. The minuscule population which denies it is either lying or has a solid problem.
To fulfil that urge, ‘Cottonfab 2012’, open to the public at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, has plenty to offer. Their yearly visits are looked forward to eagerly by many. It’s not just style, but the price range also that draw crowds. The happy by-product of this interest among city folks is that weavers in Chanderi, Sitapur, Bhagalpur, and a lot of other places get to make enough to live on, because middlemen do not make off with a chunk of the profit. And for customers, they get good original stuff at moderate prices.
‘Cottonfab’, which has cotton, silk (with ‘Silkmark’ tag in many) started on June 30 and will travel to another city after July 15. The fair in a huge semi-dome temporary structure on the left side of the stadium has 78 artisans from 12 States showing off their wares. As you enter, in the middle is stuff from Bengal. Pure silk, ‘muga’ silk, cotton saris, material, salwar sets, Vishnupuri silk saris, within the range of Rs. 2,400-6,400, for the very ornate and intricate embroidery. ‘Wildlife designs’ are many. These are all animals, deer, elephants, embroidered on ‘dupattas’ and saris, both silk and cotton and with ‘kantha’ work too.
Further on, jute silk saris, Kalamkari ‘salwar’ sets for Rs. 600, block and batik printed sets. Silk saris from Varanasi, Kota stuff with woven motifs for Rs.1,600, Bhagalpur silk ‘dupattas,’ Maheshwari saris, Chanderi material and saris, Orissa silk and cotton and ‘salwar’ sets vie for attention. Bags of all types at moderate rates, from different States are good buys.
The Sitapuri ‘dhurries’ stall will make you halt. Says Shiv Gobind, who minds the stall, “We have cotton and wool mixed too,” as he shows you offbeat mats and ‘dhurries’, woven in his village. The prices are below moderate!
We met Saif Ali Khan at the stall from Jharkhand. Yes, we did. “It’s the first time that I am in Kerala,” says the...not actor, but businessman, in perfect English. With most of the others, if you do not know Hindi, it’s a mime act. Jute silk saris, ‘salwar’ sets and ‘duppattas’ are laid out at this stall too, like many. Chikan worked clothes and saris, costume jewellery, pearls, wrap around skirts, shirts and housecoats and ‘salwars’ for the XXL bracket are other attractions. The last day of the exhibition is July 15.
