Changing lifestyle and surge in demand for haute couture has forced Khadi Board too to embrace fashion. Though not to the core, the board has taken note of the changing taste of buyers.

For the last three years, the board has been honing the skills of those involved in the realm.

Every year, 10 artisans from each of the societies under Khadi Gramodyog Mandali are being sent for training at National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bangalore.

As a result, Bellary jeans, bermuda and t-shirts made of khadi among other products have been adorning the stalls, said chief executive officer of the board K Nagaraju.

Replying to media queries, the officer claimed though there is array of clothes in the market, khadi still has a hold on its customers. From handkerchiefs to shirts, towels to pajamas, waist coats to shirts, khadi is in the reckoning. The officer said, at a similar expo cum sale in Raichur, the revenue generated from towels alone was Rs 30 lakh.

Nagaraju said Mysore has remained a favourable market for khadi products. The board this time has a target of Rs two crore from 35 stalls at the ongoing expo. Earlier, in the year 2011, the stall at Dasara exhibition grounds had generated a revenue of Rs 1.6 crore. In the year 2010, from 18 stalls at the expo, a revenue of Rs 1.25 crore was generated.

Earlier, chairman of Karnataka State Khadi and Gramodyog Mandali Shankara Gowda Haravi inaugurated ‘Khadi Utsava 2012’ an expo-cum-sale of khadi products at Sahakar Bhavan on Chamaraja double road in the city. The expo will remain open up to November 25 between 10 am and 8 pm.