Visitors check out saris at the exhibition. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, July 5: Not that this city’s shoppers need an excuse, but with a series of festivals — Durga Puja, Chhath and Diwali — set to arrive early this year, they better be ready with their new dresses.

Calcutta’s Exclusive Boutique, a team of 10 boutiques from the Bengal metro, is ready to woo the city’s women at a five-day handloom fair at Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Bhavan in Sonari. The exhibition-cum-sale that started on July 3 will continue till July 8.

The fair showcases an impressive range of saris, dress materials, kurta and accessories, exclusively for the discerning ladies.

“This year, Durga Puja comes in early. Women of Jamshedpur love to shop and they have a taste for the unusual, stuff that’s not available in the regular markets.

“This fair’s perfect for the women and, so far, we have received a positive response with buyers placing orders in bulk,” said Sushrita Sinha, the exhibition organiser.

In the bejewelled section, a craze for kundan is being witnessed. Next in line are the eye-catching gold-plated silver jewellery. Indian trinkets — anklets, bangles, pendants and necklaces — are also fast disappearing from the racks. Stone-studded jewellery, from Rajasthan, priced at a moderate Rs 600-Rs 750 are also being bought.

“A new item that seems to have caught the buyers’ fancy is the gold-plated octopus chain. It is a chain with a large locket and is popular in Calcutta. It promises to have a following of its own here, too. It is chic yet traditional and can be worn with any sort of sari and on any occasion,” said Sraboni Bagchi, an accessory designer from Calcutta.

Once the jewellery has been bought, they may be matched with kantha, matka and tussar saris that are a part of the sale. Along with these traditional handloom saris, there is the ever-elegant Bhagalpuri silk saris and Assam’s mekholas. Silk dress materials are also available and start from a price of Rs 800.

“The fair also offers an exclusive range of Bengal tant and nokshi kantha, which though highly-priced is always in demand, especially in this town. It costs something around Rs 6,000, but Jamshedpur buyers have a taste for kantha,” said Sinha.

Though tant seems to be the universal favourite, buyers were also seen keenly checking out chiffon, crepe and net saris.