Silk Fab exhibition-cum-sale 2015 kicked off to a great start at Novotel Hotel at Visakhapatnam on Saturday with more than 60 stalls exhibiting a wide variety of textiles from 41 agencies across 11 states, including four weavers who won national awards for design. The exhibition aims to bridge the gap between buyers and weavers by bringing the latter closer to the customers.

The exhibition-cum-sale of silk handloom fabrics is being jointly organised under the aegis of the Development Commissioner of Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, and the National Handloom Development Corporation.

A variety of fabrics in striking colours, saris in traditional and contemporary patterns, and silk ‘dupattas’ and dress materials from different parts of India are exhibited. With a discount of 20 percent, the collections on offer are from the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and other regions.

Manik Roy’s collection of Matka silk, woven with ‘resham pallu’ called ‘byloom’ saris, gives a peek into West Bengal’s artistic finesse in creating handlooms of different kinds.

The stall from Madhya Pradesh, Khadi Gramodyog stall has brought a pleasing collection of Mulberry silk. ‘Chanderi’ saris from Madhya Pradesh in ‘patli pallu’ and ‘kalamkari’ prints are one of the new collections here.

Assam’s famous ‘Muga tassar’ is available here in saris and running materials. Apart from this, the exhibition has the traditional ‘kantha stitch’ from Bengal, traditional silks of Uppada and Kancheepuram, a range of ‘ghicha’ silk and dress material sets in a variety of fabrics.

Silk in its many manifestations turned out to be quite the eye candy for all buyers at the stalls comprising products like Pochampalli, Paithani, Kanjivaram, Banarasi, Jamdani, Baluchari and Ikkat to name a few. Exquisite Kantha and Madhubani prints from Bihar, Muga silk from Assam, Pochampally, Gadwal and Dharmavaram saris from Andhra Pradesh, rich Baluchari and Tangai from West Bengal, tribal work and Kosa silks from Chhattisgarh, Chintamani, Kasuti and Karnataka silks from Karnataka and rich printed silk sarees from Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi are on display.

Weavers and artisans from State agencies, primary handloom weavers cooperative societies and agencies working under the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme are showcasing their creations.

The exhibition will be open to public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. till January 16.