Australian fashion designer to enhance market linkage for local products

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, May 27: Impressed with the traditiol design and products of eri and muga as well as handicraft products, the founder of Artisans of Fashion in Sydney (Australia-India Collaborative Fashion Project), Caroline Poiner, who is in Kokrajhar to study the local products and designs, on Thursday said that she would take initiative to enhance the productivity and design, besides making stronger market linkage.

Caroline Poiner on Thursday attended the iugural function of the six-day long Handicraft Exhibition, 2016 of eri, endi and muga products and handicraft products in Kokrajhar. The exhibition, which will conclude on June 1, has been organized by the Bodoland Apex Weavers’ and Artisans’ Cooperative Federation (BRAWFED) under the sponsorship of Development Commissioner, Handicrafts, Ministry of Textile, Government of India.

The handicraft exhibition was iugurated by the chairman of BRAWFED, Binod rzary. He said that the federation had been trying to increase the productivity of eri and muga in Bodoland region which had vast potential for upgrading this sector. He hoped that the visit of the Australian fashion designer would be an inspiration for the local weavers and artisans and the market linkage would be developed.

The maging director of BRAWFED, NN Ra Patgiri said the Bodoland region had the highest potential for upgrading the eri and muga silk products. He said the federation had been organizing craft melas, tiol handloom expo, thematic exhibition on various products in different States and cities in India, besides participating in intertiol exhibitions. He said the sale proceed of BRAWFED was very satisfactory through which the federation could encourage the weavers and artisans of the region.

On the upgradation of design of local products and enhancement of products through modern technology, Patgiri said that the Australian designer would not distort the basic design of the traditiol fabrics but simply upgrade the quality and colour. He also hoped that the initiative of Poiner would take the traditiol products to the global market.