Golden jute, once upon a time sack cloth, is today a lifestyle statement: bio-degradable, eco-friendly, cool and trendy. With its ‘natural’ feel and textured charm, jute is now used in areas as diverse as high fashion fabric, upholstery and curtains, wall hangings and artefacts. And bags of every description, from shopping bags, hand bags, satchels, pouches, and tambool bags, are gifts in themselves now. The South India Jute Association (SIJA) presents jute in its many colourful avatars at the ‘Navaratri Jute Fair’. Attractive jute handbags, party bags, garden bags, travel bags, mobile phone pouches, wallets, jewellery and gift articles in a splash of colours are on offer, handcrafted by women drawn mainly from self-help groups. Women entrepreneurs run the 20 SIJA units spread across the city. The bags feature kalamkari, hand painting, bead and shell work, hand block and screen printing as value additions. Pick up charming jute elephants, pen stands, bathroom mats, mirrors etched with jute and delicately crafted jewellery, which includes jhumkas, pendants and chains. SIJA’s ‘Navaratri Jute Fair’ is on at Vijayraja Thirumana Mandapam , Adyar, Chennai till September 22.
