Spoilt for choice: A customer at a Cottonfab kiosk in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 17: Trendy wool crepe dresses that are a rage on the ramp, traditional Benarasi brocade saris that make you nostalgic about your wedding day and colourful bangles that Michelle Obama fancies.

All this and more are drawing fashion enthusiasts in hordes to Cottonfab, an annual exhibition of silk and cotton items, which commenced on Exhibition Ground on September 6.

Replete with creative motifs and quality fabrics, the month long fair, now in its fourth year, is organised by Lucknow-based Awadh Hathkargha, Hastshilpa and Gramodyog Samiti.

A total of 122 artisans from 12 states have displayed their products in more than 60 kiosks. An extensive range of saris, suits and kurtis are alluring women. With outfits available in Patiala’s phulkari embroidery, Mysore silk, Assamese Munga silk, and Benarasi brocades, one is bound to be spoilt for choice.

The chikankari work of Lucknow, besides the chanderi and batik prints of Madhya Pradesh, are also on display. Shoppers would be delighted to find saris in various fabrics such as tussar, silk, chiffon and ikkat under the same roof.

Pashmina shawls and saris and wool crepe from Kashmir are also attracting many customers. The myriad hues and intricate designs of Kashmiri garments are another excuse for the shoppers to splurge.

“Saris in block prints have always been in demand. This year, I have brought new designs of kantha stitch,” said Gopal, a salesman of Calcutta-based Radha Govind Saris, who has been taking part in the fair since its first year. The products are fairly priced in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.

Haji Md Yamin, a 66-year-old bangle-maker from New Delhi, claims to have a unique collection of glass and metal bangles.

“My designs were presented to the first lady of the USA, Michelle Obama, when she visited the national capital. The colour of my bangles will never fade,” said Yamin.

Also available are accessories such as earrings, necklace and ring fingers. Those looking home décor items can find a rich variety of rugs, wall hangings and showpieces also.

Though some kiosks are yet to open and rain has been playing the spoilsport on weekends, it has hardly deterred the city’s shoppaholics from making a beeline at the exhibition venue.

Sales manager of the fair Javed Khan said the samiti aimed to revive and save the traditional art of rural artisans by providing them a market to showcase their products.

“Though our sales did not match our expectations last year. This year, we have come here with high hopes,” said Khan.