With traditional fabrics from 15 States being showcased at the Silk Fab Expo organised at Valluvar Kottam, it was as much a lesson in geography as a treat to the eye.

Exquisite silk sarees, dress materials, dupattas, salwar suits and stoles were on offer at the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC)-organised expo inaugurated here on Wednesday.

Linking weavers, customers

“The last time we brought this expo to Chennai, the response was excellent. So we decided to launch this year's exhibition from here,” said S. Malik, Chief Manager (Commercial), NHDC.

“The idea is to directly link the weavers with the customers. We wanted to provide a platform so weavers can stand on their own feet,” he said.

This direct link between the weaver and the customer helps artisans like Debabrata Dey from the Chhattisgarh Artisans Welfare Association to sell his collection. “We don't repeat designs. We want every piece to be unique so the value of the art is maintained,” said Mr. Dey.

Unique embroidery

The unique embroidery he practises is the nakshi kantha embroidery which relies heavily on needlework. Another artisan, Shini Mehar said, “We have brought kosa silk sarees and stoles with hand-painted madhubani designs. ”

Zuber Ahmed from the Banaras Silk Fabrics Cooperative Society said kantha silk and jute silks seem to be preferred by Chennaites. “Each silk fabric we have brought along has the silk mark and handloom mark from the Ministry of Textiles, certifying that it is genuine work,” he said.

At the expo is an abundance of hand-woven, intricate pieces of fabrics many of which is worked on tirelessly by women weavers.

“We have a community of 100 weavers and each saree is worked on by two weavers. Given these are all handwoven, it provides a lot of employment to people,” said Anwar Ahmed from Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh.

Regular customers like Pammi Sarvajit Singh who has been frequenting this expo over the years said, “This time, I see a difference in the variety. There is a better collection on offer.”

The convenience of finding material from all over India under one roof appealed to her.

Good range

Another customer, Priya Ram said, “There is a good range and there is no better place which offers this quality at these prices.”

This exhibition-cum-sale features a total of 148 stalls. The expo is open till July 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all days including Sunday at the Valluvar Kottam Auditorium, Nungambakkam.