A new look for jute

Visitors browse through jute-made clothes at a stall at a three-day fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka yesterday. The show highlighted jute diversification and products made of garment waste and dried hyacinth. Photo: Anisur rahman

The mannequin duo, one dressed in a sari and the other in a sherwani, stood at the entrance in a welcome gesture.
Sonali Swapna, painted in green and decorated with plants and flower vases, is a place to celebrate jute products.
Clothes and other items, like curtains, cushions and handbags, displayed inside the house are all made of jute.
“It's a symbol that the story of jute is no longer only about sacks or pot hangers. It has the potential to enter the niche market,” said Saibal Saha, product development designer at Sonali Swapna.
Sonali Swapna is a stall that displayed various jute-based products at a three-day fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Dhaka. More than 50 organisations attended the show to popularise local products.
Saha, who works for the International Jute Study Group and various fashion houses, said displays were made to show people how far jute could go. He said commercialisation is yet to start for jute clothing.
“We want the making and marketing of such items to begin,” he said. Handbags, cushions and cotton blended jute fabrics have started gaining popularity, he added.
The cushions and cotton blended jute fabrics are being exported.
Sonali Swapna is not the only stall that displayed the jute fabrics. Government agencies, such as Jute Diversification Promotion Centre, also showcased jute clothing, such as suits and blazers for the youth.
Adhara Basu, marketing director of Jute Diversification Promotion Centre, said the agency is making Jamdani fabrics and suits based on jute yarn.
“Some businessmen have shown interest in exporting these clothes.”
Knitwear by-products and dried hyacinth were also used to make rugs and handbags.
Hasmat Ali, a salesman at a stall named Satranji, said they make household products, such as mats and curtains, using jute, dried hyacinth and garment by-products.
The fair exemplified the endeavour of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to compete in the global market.
Assemblers of solar panels, generators, electric and electronic products; cosmetics makers; plastic ware; and food processors were also present at the event that ended yesterday.
Hasanur Rahman Shadheen, assistant general manager (sales and marketing) of EM Power Ltd, said the company has been assembling generators since 2006.
“We already sold more than 1,000 generators in the local market,” he said, adding that the local buyers have low confidence in the products, as they fear poor quality.
Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, E3 and Carnival organised the event.