People shop at the Cottonfab exhibition in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1: Silk and cotton fabric are weaving magic at the ongoing Cottonfab exhibition on Exhibition ground.

Minister of handlooms, textiles and handicrafts Snehangini Chhuria inaugurated the fair organised by the Awadh Hathkargha Hastshilp Evam Gramodyog Samiti, Lucknow, on August 28. It will continue till September 22.

People are making a beeline to the fair keeping in mind the ongoing festival season.

Chikan and Banarasi saris have a huge demand among the shoppers. The block prints and bandhej work of Rajasthan also appear to be quite popular. “Then there are shoppers, who are looking exclusively for Kutch embroidery,” said Jitesh, a salesman from Gujarat.

With vast works of batik and chanderi being available at the exhibition, shoppers are spoilt for choice. Moreover, tussar, silk, chiffon and ikkat items are also a hit with the visitors. “Be it Kashmir’s pashmina shawls, Bengal’s Dhakai jamdani, Odisha’s very own Sambalpuri ikkat or Tamil Nadu’s kanjeevaram, every fabric one desires is available here. Since it is a festival season, the exhibition is held at the perfect time,” Pragyan Sahoo, a home-maker. The saris have been priced between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000. Besides saris, the fair also has salwars suits, frocks, kurtis, stoles and home décor items such as mats, rugs, bed sheets and quilts.

There are jewellery kiosks, too, at the expo. Bangles in lacquer and glass as well as metal and wood and bracelets are finding interest among customers. Handbags and footwear, especially jutis, are also available in various designs. From original Hyderabadi pearls to artificial jewellery, shoppers are splurging.

“The exhibition aims to popularise traditional art by providing rural artisans direct marketing opportunities,” said Javed Alam, an official.