Bhubaneswar, Dec. 11: A group of students from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has come forward to help orphans in the city, in the most creative ways.

The students from the fashion and lifestyle accessories department, numbering around 30, have created products using recycled packing materials for the children after taking note of their needs.

The items created by the department students were on display at an exhibition on the NIFT premises today.

The students visited two orphanages in the city, Asha Kiran and Ashraya, and found out that the children do not have any place to keep their personal belongings.

"With so many children residing at one place, they are forced to share space among themselves. We conducted interactive sessions with them and found out that they wanted space to keep their personal belongings safely. So, we conducted workshops at the orphanages and came up with the idea of storage units," said Shubhangi Raj, a student.

Each of the students has created one item, such as study tables, shoe stands and multipurpose storage units using cardboard boxes, which they collected from the institute premises. The storage units have been designed to look attractive and come in various shapes and sizes.

"Air conditioners were being installed in our new buildings. All the items have been created from the discarded AC boxes," said Shubhangi.

The items will be distributed among the orphans.

Another group of 26 students from the department has incorporated the traditional Pattachitra style of painting in contemporary items in an attempt to increase the market value of the art form.

They have incorporated their designs on several items used by people in their daily lives, such as bags, coffee tables, mirror stands, sunglasses, jewellery boxes, on musical instruments, headphones and night lamps.

"We have been visiting a number of handicrafts clusters in the state and meeting artists. We are trying to convince them to adopt newer techniques and try their art in other things apart from wall hangings and frames," said Aranyka Sharma, another student.

The students have also designed terracotta pots and vases inspired by various time periods and civilisations, such as the Byzantine empire and the Gothic era.