It's a fair for all

Looking for unusual fabrics, weaves, jewellery, arts and crafts from different parts of the country then the Sampoorn Fair, which is currently on at Chitrakala Parishat in the City is the place to be. The fair has plenty of interesting stuff to suit every taste and budget.

This fifteen-year-old organisation that began as a self-help women's entrepreneur group to a country wide organisation supporting and encouraging all kinds of crafts and artisans. Now exhibiting over 142 stalls and representing 23 States, they have an amazing variety of goods on display, perfect for picking up unusual gifts or enhancing your wardrobe or home interiors.

 “We have artisans from all over the country who want to be part of Sampoorn and while we would love to accommodate all, there is a shortage of space,.” say Shalini and Kailash Sudarshan of Sampoorna who work tirelessly to promote these craftsmen from all over the country, many of them national and state award winners in their respective fields. There is something for everyone at the exhibition, from products created out of street waste to high end silk weaves and stylish, contemporary goods.

“We help craftsmen and artisans get in touch directly with the consumer. This way they support their trade by getting much better prices and crafts that are in danger of dying out get a new lease of life,” they add.

What's on offer?
Unique cotton and silk weaves from different parts of the country ranging from the exquisite Devbhumi Oak Forest silk transformed into lovely light stoles and shawls in rich jewel tones to gorgeous Benares silks.

 Sarees, dress materials, readymade garments from kurtis to mix and match pieces, handbags, jewellery, brightly coloured pottery, earthen ware, unusual weaves from the mystic North Eastern tribesmen, finely embroidered garments from Gujarat and Rajasthan either in snowy whites or bright splashes of colour.

Brass ware gleaming in very contemporary designs,murals from Kerala, hollowed out gourds in funky shapes, beautiful wood carvings in small panels or huge life sized ones that work well as planters or vases, beautiful wood carvings in small panels or huge life sized ones,bangles and brightly coloured jewellry in all shapes and sizes from tiny dancers dangling on a wire to chunky tribal work.

For your table there are a range of ready to cook mixes and powders to  digestive choorans and well seasoned pickle from different states,their aroma wafting tantalisingly into the air. Indian art at its creative best and adapted to contemporary styles range from  dhokra cast metal and iron,  to terracotta, pottery, silver and metal jewellry and bamboo products.

Handmade soaps and stationery,crafts by Belgaum’s Shramik Art association, with a variety of handicrafts. In the roza collection-laundry baskets, coil bowls, bags, cushion covers and harda, kasim, dakshini wool bags, Ilkal sarees and khan blouses. The fair is on from October 5-14, 10 am to 7 pm at Chitrakala Parishat.