A seven-day long Pochampally Ikat Art Mela-2016 an event organised by Pochampally Handloom Park was inaugurated by Krishna Zilla Parishad Chairperson Gadde Anuradha on Friday to give handloom lovers in the city a reason to celebrate. The expo has on display a wide range of hand-woven eco-friendly handloom products.

Pochampally Handloom Park founder chairmen Krishna and Sahesh pointed to the fact that handlooms represented Indian tradition. They said that by buying handlooms, people could support the weavers who had been passing on their skills for generations.

The beauty of Ikat lies in the unpredictability of the texture of the fabric, using the latest techniques. It is a textile technique in which patterns are achieved by tying and dying the yarn prior to weaving; this unique process gives Ikat fabrics their distinct feathered identity.

The Pochampally Ikat Art mela has handmade bed and home linen, dress material, silk and cotton saris put on display.

The expo is held at Sri Vidya Sadan, beside Maris Stella college and the expo will be open everyday from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. till July 13.