Jute Contest at Tirupur in 2011: Detailed REPORT of Jute Crafts Design Contest

Jute Crafts Design Contest

National Jute Board (NJB), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India in association with NIFT-TEA Knitwear Fashion Institute, an exclusive educational institute for Knitwear Fashion Education, promoted by Tirupur Exporters’ Association, organized a One day State level “Jute Crafts Design contest” at NIFT-TEA fashion Design Institute, on 28^th Dec’11 at Tirupur.

Recent days, the Industry is expected to produce products that are Eco-friendly, Trendy, recyclable and economical. The market and customers too have started demanding these aspects in the products they buy and use. In this situation, NJB is taking sincere efforts to promote the materials like Jute which is versatile and 100% Bio degradable. Next to cotton, jute is the only natural plant fibers that are available in bulk.

To promote the Eco friendly designing culture, and “Go Green” initiative, being popularly practiced in US & European Countries, NJB is taking continuous steps to improve domestic and export business by extending various support schemes to small scale industries. As an attempt in this regard NJB in association with NIFT-TEA organized a one day state level Jute Craft Design contest on 28^th December 2011 at NIFT-TEA Campus at Tirupur.

NIFT-TEA, with its vast potential and expertise has been rightly involved in the organizing of this event to make the event colorful. NIFT-TEA made necessary infrastructure for distribution of FREE-Jute Fabrics to different Fashion institutes and also Free-Shuttle Bus facilities during the event, from Tirupur railway station, to cater to the Outstation participants and Free Lunch arrangements for the participants. More than 50 volunteers were involved in this Mega event, for guiding the participants, starting from the Registration process and upto the final judgment process and Valedictory function.
The event was well co-ordinated under the leadership of Shri. Sivagnanam, Vice-Principal, NIFT-TEA & Mr. Viswanathan, Programme Co-ordinator, NIFT-TEA and the student volunteers, from the start to the Valedictory.

This event is FIRST of its kind, in India, by National Jute Board(NJB), and this Design competition attempts to give creative designers & students from all over the state, a chance to show cause their talents. The participant designers who can be either individual or students, were provided Jute fabrics at “Free of cost”, by NJB through NIFT-TEA. The Designers experimented their creativity and innovation to convert the base Jute fabric into various value added products categorized into Designer Bags, Wall Hangings and Decorative Made-ups. The participants were also allowed to finish their products at home with the fabric provided by NJB/NIFT-TEA, and to exhibit the same and there was also “On the Spot” crafts making to produce Trendy Jute products, under the Different Categories, indicated by the organisors, between 10 am to 12 noon, on 28^th Dec’11. Nearly 800 number of students and Designers , from various places, like Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Salem, Tuticorin, Cochin and Tirupur, collected the FREE Jute fabrics from NIFT-TEA & NJB, for this purpose and showed off their expertise, in different forms and different collections, under the above specified categories. The Judges were both from Jute Industry & Business Consultants, namely, Mrs.Vedhavalli of M/s. Leclar Impex, Chennai, Mr. Ramesh of M/s. Royal Jute, Chennai and Mr. G.Manikandan of M/s.Apparel Global Consulting, Tirupur and Mrs.Arundathi Ghosal, HOD of Fashion Designing, NIFT-TEA. Judges had great difficulty in judging the Special features and Product Superiority, due to multi-Utility products and product diversity, by the students from nearly 25 colleges & individuals.

More than 550 participants turned out with Highly designer Jute Products with their imagination and talent and the products were of varied form, like Jute Decorative Crown (meant for Rajas), Jute Watches, Jute wall paintings of Workmanship and decoration, Jute bags in varied shapes and unimaginable designs, Designer clocks, Jute Jewel Box, Lamp shade, Jute flower-vase, Jute ornaments, and many more collections were presented by the student designers, at this State level contest.

Shri. Raja. M. Shanmugam, Chairman, NIFT-TEA Knitwear Fashion Institute, made the welcome & presidential address.

Honourable Shri.M. Mathivanan, IAS, District Collector, Tirupur, presided as Chief Guest of this Mega Event, and distributed the prizes to the Best Designer & Craftsman, at different categories, at NIFT-TEA Auditorium. Collector appreciated the efforts of NIFT-TEA and also National jute Board, in organizing this promotional event, at Tirupur. Chief Guest also praised the Craftmanship , Design ability & imagination of the participants, in coming out with such varied nature of products, from the Eco-friendly fibre “Jute” and also he pointed out that, it is the right attempt for bringing in such productive contests among the students, to face the international market requirement for “Green & environment friendly products”. Chief Guest also invited the organisors, to showcase these Jute collections, in the forthcoming Government Trade fair, to be organized at Tirupur, during January, for creating awareness among the general public also about the range of eco-friendly jute products and also to make them understand about the design talents of NIFT-TEA students & other fashion institute participants.

Shri. T. Ayyappan, Market Promotion Officer, National Jute Board, Govt. of India, in his address, pointed out that, the idea of this Contest was initiated from the NIFT-TEA students and later transpired to organize this State level Mega contest. Mr. Ayyappan pointed out the co-operation and support extended by NIFT-TEA authorities, in making this Mega event, very successful and also highlighted the special products created by the Designers, in this contest. One of the Participant also had come out a Jute knee band, as a pain reliever, under Surgical products and other decorative products such as Jute Crown & Jute watches, were also worth mentioning, he added.

In order to appreciate & praise the efforts of existing Talented Jute entrepreneurs, Extra-Ordinary Jute Entrepreneur Awards were given to Jute entrepreneurs Mrs.Vedhavalli of M/s. Leclar Impex, Chennai, Mr. Ramesh of M/s. Royal Jute, Chennai & Mr. Sathyan of M/s. Chic crafts.

Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore, bagged 5 prizes, in different categories, and Thiyagaraja Polytechnic, Salem bagged 2 prizes, and Alumni of NIFT-TEA bagged 2 prizes while PSG Tech, PSG Arts, Park College, Hindusthan College, Kumaruguru College and Arul Murugan Polytechnic bagged One Prize, each. All other participants received certificate of participants.

Shri. P. Moghan, Vice-Chairman (Fin.) & Shri. S. Dhananjayan, Chairman, ADC were also present and graced this One Day Jute Crafts Contest.

The program ended with vote of thanks by Dr.N.Gokarneshan, Principal, NIFT TEA.