Bhubaneswar: Each festive season, the fashion savvy looks for something new that will stand out among the crowd. This time, shoppers have a host of exhibitions on their platter.

A collection of silk handlooms with attractive prints and fashionable designs is on display at an exhibition at Hotel Marrion here. Varieties of silk in muga, tussar, mulberry and eri have been used in the apparels. The saris are available in stunning prints on pure silk. These prints include floral and other nature-inspired patterns as well as geometrical shapes and abstract images. Various weavers, handloom clusters and silk co-operative societies are showcasing their designs at the exhibition. Unique handloom styles from across the country - such as pochampalli silks of Andhra Pradesh, muga silk collections from Assam, Madhubani of Bihar, tribal work and kosa silk of Chhattisgarh, pathani and puna saris of Maharashtra, bomkai and Sambalpuri saris of Odisha and kosa silk of Jharkhand are also available.

Apart from saris, the exhibition offers salwar suits, stoles, kurtis, jackets and other clothing items. The saris begin from Rs 500 but can go up to Rs 20,000 depending on the quality. Dress material is available between Rs 400 and Rs 4,000.

The upcoming celebrations of Ganesh Puja and Nuakhai as well as Dussehra and Diwali in the coming months are drawing buyers from all age groups.

"It is a wonderful feeling to collect rare weaves from the handloom expos. I am glad to see so many apparels, particularly silk saris, being showcased under one roof," said Ananya Mohapatra, a city-based fashion designer.