It is time to promote handspun and handmade decorative fabric as we are transforming from freedom fabric to fashion fabric, said Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board (OKVIB) president Tejeswar Parida at the Khadi Haat, a 15-day exhibition now underway in the city.
To attract young generation, the State Khadi Board has tied up with fashion designers who have developed unique styles and designed skirts, kurtas, kurtis, jackets, dhotis, pants, salwar suits, wrap-arounds, trousers, parallels, and saris etc. Fashion shows were organsied as a part of the exhibition, where models walked the ramp wearing these hand woven Khadi products. Actors Akash Das Nayak and Sabyasachi Mishra and actresses Archita Sahu and Anu Choudhury have been chosen as brand ambassadors to promote Khadi products.
Around 130 kiosks have been set up to showcase Khadi attires and handicraft items including bamboo craft, paddy craft, horn art, straw art, and woodcarving etc.Artisan Harihara Das from Baleswar displayed his paddy crafts. He has been attracting visitors with products in his stall which range from Rs60 to Rs4,000. Artisan Jeevan Ram Mohapatra has products of bamboo craft within a range of Rs20 to Rs65,000. Both admitted that they got good response here.
As Khadi is a symbol of self-employment, our objective behind organising the Haat is to empower the rural artisans.Besides, we can check the migration problem of our State through the process, said Parida, adding that everyone should go for Khadi as it is ethnic, versatile and good for skin, apart from being cost effective. Parida laid stress on increasing marketing, designing and conducting fashion shows and exhibition for promotion of Khadi and Khadi artisans.OKVIB expects a business turnover of Rs1.5 to 2 crores during the exhibition which will conclude on December 26.