: It is hard not to get tempted by the vibrant cotton handlooms exhibited at the Cotton Fab exhibition being held at the Putharikandam Maidanam, near East Fort.
The exhibition has cotton fabrics from all over the country on display. Saris, ‘kurthis’, ‘salwar kameez’, skirts, shirts, pyjamas, bed-sheets, pillow covers, cotton and jute bags from different States are among the attractions here.
There are more than 40 stalls, each unique. One stall from Andhra Pradesh has the Uppada saris of pure silk made by weavers in Uppada, a small village near Kakinada. Rajasthani block print salwars, Banaras handbags, terracotta earrings, chunky bangles and handwoven intricate patterns on the ‘Anarkali’ ‘kurtis’ from Lucknow are among the popular items.
The garments are woven in villages across India. “Everyone in my family is involved in the weaving business. I am a wholesale distributor and have a production unit at Mathura. We get the materials from Kolkata, Jaipur and Coimbatore. We get good profits by selling items displayed at exhibitions like these,” says Narendra Malik who runs the stall ‘Vijaya Arts, Jaipur’ at the exhibition.
Besides different cotton wear, there are bangles, earrings, pearl necklaces, handicraft toys and souvenirs also on display. Discounts are also being offered to customers. The exhibition will be open on all days till June 22.
