Second day of ‘Vastra 14’, which was inaugurated at Rajasthan yesterday, witnessed a busy business activities where hundreds of participants engaged in discussions on order processing timelines, pricing and other related issues.
Since textile is a focus area for Rajasthan, as stated by the chief minister and industries minister yesterday, organiser took every measure to make ‘Vastra’ a vibrant and truly global event in the coming years.
Over 200 buyers from 56 countries are attending the three-day meet. 52 leading buying houses from the country are participating in the event. There were 900 business meetings, which generated business worth 17.76 million US dollars. Buyer-sellers meets at the venue resulted in a long term contracts and better understanding of buyer expectations and trends.
‘Shilpangan’, the Rajasthan state pavilion was the centre of attraction with visitors and exhibitors turning up in large numbers on the 2nd day too. Spread over 2300 sq. ft., the pavilion brings together renowned traditional textile crafts from across the state. Handblock printing, kanta, barmar embroidery, kota doria, durries, woolen shawls and Jaipur quilts are drawing buyers and admires alike. The ‘fabric wall’ at one end of ‘Shilpangan’ is a matrix of specially handpicked textiles from across Rajasthan. There are pavilions from different states at the exhibitions hall. From the heart of jute-land Kolkata, comes this fabric in an all new avatar like printed burlaps, wine bags, garden jars, Christmas pouches, cushion covers, flower covering, curtains etc. The look and finish of this product is truly of international standards.
Puppets of Rajasthan and Gujarat look strikingly similar, but a close look reveals more. ‘Bag makers’ from Delhi work with some 1000 families in the villages of Uttar Pradesh. These bags come in all textile-viscose, jacquard, cotton, woolen, dobbie and even rugs and durries embellished with a variety of hand craft.
The fair also organised a ‘knowledge session’ where important personalities presented the overall situation of textile sector in their respective areas. Commerce and industry secretary of the Karnataka government, Mr. Tusar Giri Nath made a presentation on investment opportunities in Karnataka. He highlighted strengths of textile sector in the state and investment opportunities especially in the wake of the new promotion policy, ‘Nuthana Javali Neethi’. Mr. Bob Berg from Sourcing Magic, USA in his presentation on ‘Selling Apparel in US’ elaborated on the various buyers segments for Indian manufactures and exporters. He specially highlighted growing e-tail segment and on how the Indian exporters should gear up to target them.
Foreign visitors who went round the fair extensively for all two days expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made at the venue. Dora Pona of Bulgaria said “I have been sourcing from India for last 15 years. I am here to source ladies wear for the coming summer.” Christopher Beavis of UK said “this is my first year at Vastra and I really like the variety of finished goods exhibited here. We actually found what we came here for… it has been a great sourcing experience for us.” High commissioner, Sri Lanka, Sudharashan Seneviratne viewed “I am very impress by the arrangements made by the organisers and specially the efforts of the Rajasthan governments. It is very aesthetically tuned production of Vastra or garments as we call it. The cultural variation here is amazing.
