Odisha Youth Receives Star India Award For Promoting State Handloom

Bhubaneswar: Bangalore-based Odia designer Sujit Meher has given a new identity to Odisha handloom by branding it at the international level. For promoting Odisha handloom, Sujit has received the ‘Best Designer For Social Impact’ award from Star India recently.

“Basically I have received the award for the promotion Odisha textile, handloom and design. I always try to promote the work of Odisha artisans at the international level and think how they can be benefitted,” said Sujit.

“I am very happy after receiving the award. It could be possible for the love of the people of Odisha. The award giving ceremony was scheduled to be held last April in Mumbai. But, due to the pandemic, it could not be held. The award was given at a virtual ceremony recently,” he added.

Sujit has initiated the way to send Odisha handloom saris and dress materials to foreign countries.

“Over 200 artists and weavers from Gopalpur, Sambalpur and Berhampur are deployed in this work. They make the design and weave the materials. Then they send them to me in Bangalore. My team then stitches these materials in different designs. I send these saris and dresses abroad including US, Dubai and some European countries,” said Sujit.

Now Sujit is planning to use the handloom of Odisha for costumes worn during wedding ceremonies.

“For this purpose, we have started experimenting with Tussar from Berhampur and Gopalpur and Pata from Nuapatna and Sambalpur. I prefer to use the same fabric in trendy modern clothes so as to attract a large section of youngsters,” he said.

He had also brought some artisans from Rajasthan to give training in stone work to 15 women of Kalahandi district.

Sujit started this work on handlooms in 2013. “I completed my studies from NIFT, Bangalore. Then I started this business for the benefit of Odisha artists and weavers,” he said.

“I am planning to shift base to Odisha so that all the work can be done there. I want to involve more people from Odisha in my work. I want proper marketing of their work,” said the 31-year-old Sujit, whose native place is Dhrmagarh, a small town in Kalahandi district.