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| A resident purchases jute bags at the fair on Sunday. Picture by Jai Prakash |
Residents are in for a treat with the artisans displaying a wide range of jute products at a seven-day fair to be concluded on August 29.
Organised by the National Jute Board, the fair witnessed participants from the eastern zone, including Bihar and Bengal. It has more than 20 stalls of handmade jute bags, footwear, fashion and traditional jewellery, handicraft, gift items, wall hangings, floor covering and fabrics.
P.K. Sahu, the chief market promotion officer of the National Jute Board, said: “The aim of the fair is to encourage the use of jute with respect to poly bags. Jute can be used in making household products like carpets, rugs, mats and a wide range of furnishing available in latest style and trends.”
For the fashion savvy and eco-friendly generation, the artisans displayed new style and trends of natural fabrics. “The fabrics have vegetable prints, dying and printing. To make the clothes fashionable, we have designed them with appliqué, cord, lacework, embroideries and fringes,” Sourab Saha, the designer from Calcutta, said.
Residents like Sujata Sinha, wait for these kinds of fairs every year to buy natural jute. “Jute is eco-friendly, durable and washable. In compare to fabrics and leather, jute products are economical and have product value,” Sujata said.
Another artisan from Calcutta Mohammad Tabrez has set up a stall of jute bags. “The jute bags are back in fashion for the past two years and their demand is high. We have all kinds of bags like pencil boxes to tote bags. The dye used in these bags is natural and is unlikely to fade,” he said.
To make the jute bags trendy and stylish, Tabrez used contemporary colours like bright orange, neon pink and yellow. “We have also used embroidery, woven jute and silk thread to give the bags a contemporary look,” he said. The stall also has tiffin bags, pencil boxes, purses, cellphone covers, files and carry bags.
According to Abhishek Dutta, the leading fashion designer, jute is back in trend. “Jute is skin-friendly. We use the natural fabric in designing to give the clothes a traditional look. Jute bags with prints with neutral base are something which will grab eyeballs,” he said
Commenting on the other advantages of jute, Sahu said: “Jute products are easy to transport, handle and install. The fabrics are easily available with customised specifications. Jute is economical and also help in keeping environment clean.”
Jute is more in demand among the homemakers. Geetam Singh (38), a resident of Kankerbagh, said: “Jute is versatile and eco-friendly. I have restricted the use of poly bags at my home and buy jute bags. I have asked my husband to use jute tiffin bags and carry bags as they are both handy and trend.”