Messages such as ‘Save the planet’ and ‘Think Green’ emblazoned over yellow tote bags, jewel-coloured hand bags, and party bags dressed up with sequins, kalamkari, embroidered patches and cane work. Alluring images of Marilyn Monroe, birds of paradise and huge roses adding a dash of fun to shopping bags. Jholas pepped up with block prints, and travel bags with a new-age sensibility. And, of course upholstery and curtains, not to mention hand-pasted, embroidered and sequined slippers, spectacle and mobile cases. Welcome jute in its many avatars!
There are also art hand bags carrying Jamini Roy figures and Bengali rangolis at the South India Jute Association’s (SIJA) Navarathri Jute Fair. Janaki Ananth, president of SIJA says: “Jute has more innate strength than cotton, and is being blended with cotton, silk, nylon, banana fibre etc.” And, more importantly, it is eco-friendly.
At the expo, most of the bags are lightly laminated in the inside. Look for a heap of attractive files, pencil cases, wall hangings, framed mirrors, trays, sari covers, belts etc. the fair. There are also a lot of colourful tamboolam bags to choose from. The 20-odd stalls are manned by small-scale entrepreneurs who create the products individually in small units or SHGS.
The Fair is on at Andal Kalyana Mandapam, New no. 108, LB Road, Adyar, till September 25.
