Mangalore : Silk Mark Expo – 2011, an exhibition organized by the Central Silk Board (CSB) of the union ministry of textiles, was inaugurated by ZP president K T Shailaja Bhat in Mangala Stadium here on November 29.
Popular film star Smitha walked on the ramp along with other models to showcase the Silk Mark Expo. G Loganathan, Executive, Silk Mark Organisation of India told media persons that such exhibition is being held in various cities of India to showcase India’s finest and purest silk varieties in range of sarees, dress materials and ready to wear fabrics. More than 63 stalls at the Expo featured a wide varieties such as Banarasi, Kanjeevaram, Bandhni, Thanchoi, Patola and Ikkat, Tussar, Muga, Baluchari, Bomkai, Jamavar, Paithani, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Gadwal, Garhwal silk, Khatan silk, kora silk, raw silk, brocaded sarees, Crapre silk-displayed by various states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal and Orissa, he said.
Silk saris ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 2,50,000 were on view in the exhibition with various prestigious silk brands opening their exhibition stalls here. Visitors could shop for various types of silk and garments including dresses, unstitched silk fabrics and a variety of silk dress materials accessories, silk handicraft products such as purces, umbrellas, wall hangings and much more. CSB deputy director P C Ramalingam, assistant deputy director Loganathan, Govind Acharya and others were present at the inaugural function.
To promote the silk industry and create awareness of Silk Mark, a quality assurance label, the Chennai chapter of Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) will hold an exhibition at Valluvar Kottam also from December 7 to 12. “Authorised users of silk mark across the country will showcase their collection at the Silk Mark Expo. Mulberry, Tussar, Eri and Muga silk items will be on display,” said P.M.Pandi, Deputy Director (Insp.) and Senior Executive, SMOI Regional Development Office. “Contests will be organised as part of the initiative to help consumers identify genuine silk. They will be given samples of mixed silk, non-silk and pure silk and asked to identify them,” he said, adding silk testing facilities would also form part of the expo. “Around 16 States will participate and more than 60 stalls will be put up,” Mr.Pandi told mediapersons in Chennai.
SMOI, sponsored by Central Silk Board, Union Ministry of Textile, is propagating the Silk Mark which is meant to be a guiding factor for the consumers of silk. Under the SMOI Chennai chapter, there are presently 400 authorised users. “To become an authorised user of the Silk Mark, the company should first become a member of SMOI.
Any member can become an authorised user by registering their name and executing a license agreement with the SMOI,” said Mr. Pandi. “The SMOI authorises the use of Silk Mark on the members’ products who have established credentials as manufacturers, retailers and exporters of genuine silk,” he added. Mr. Pandi said if consumers have doubts about the quality of Silk Mark items, they can get them tested and confirm the genuineness of the silk at SMOI testing centres. The authorised user will have to compensate the consumers if the complaint is genuine, he said. Consumers can contact the SMOI Chennai centre on 24892044 or 24894189. The Expo will be open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The entry fee is Rs.20.
Silk saris ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 2,50,000 were on view in the exhibition with various prestigious silk brands opening their exhibition stalls here. Visitors could shop for various types of silk and garments including dresses, unstitched silk fabrics and a variety of silk dress materials accessories, silk handicraft products such as purces, umbrellas, wall hangings and much more. CSB deputy director P C Ramalingam, assistant deputy director Loganathan, Govind Acharya and others were present at the inaugural function.
