Mumbaikars keen on getting their hands on genuine handloom products from across the country can look forward to visiting the union textiles ministry's National Handloom Expo, which is being held in the city this year at Bandra Reclamation ground no 1, opposite Lilavati hospital, until February 27.
The exhibition was inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and cooperation minister Chandrakant Patil. The chief guests included state education and culture minister Vinod Tawde, and state textiles minister Vijay Deshmukh.
Organised by Maharashtra State Handlooms Corporation, the expo is open from 2pm to 9pm on working days and from noon to 9 pm on Sundays and holidays. A beautiful theme pavilion by Weavers Service Center has been set up to educate visitors about the aspects of handlooms.
Sponsored by the ministry's development commissioner for handlooms and co-sponsored by the state textiles department, the event, the largest of its kind, provides a platform to poor handloom weavers to market their products, and helps disseminate knowledge about contemporary designs and trends among weavers and others.
Up to 90 artisans from 16 states, including UP, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, MP, Andhra, Karnataka, and Puducherry will display their ware at the exhibition.
MS Handlooms Cooperative Federation Ltd chairman Narendrakumar Diwate, MD DA Kulkarni, vice-chairman Laxminarayan V Gullapalli, and Weavers Service Centre director Manoj Jain were present for the inaugural ceremony.
Visitors will be spoilt for choice among a vast variety of ethnic fabric, wedding saris, dress material, furnishing cloth and a range of casual wear at reasonable prices.
The total value of sales every year is approximately Rs10-12 crore. A special rebate of 20% on all purchases can be availed of at the event.
