Kalahandi students to don spl uniforms

Bhubaneswar: Students of Kalahandi University, Bhawanipatna, will wear uniform made up of Habaspuri handloom from the new year. Ace fashion designer Sujit Meher has designed the uniform.
On Monday, the design was unveiled by vice-chancellor Sanjay Kumar Satapathy and Meher. The designer will be producing and distributing the uniform, official sources said.
“Habaspuri saree and fabrics have received the GI tag for their unique weave, design and production. It is an identity of Kalahandi district. As this art is dying, we are trying to revive it through different means. This uniform is also part of the revival process,” said Meher.
Satapathy said students were wearing blue shirts and white trousers as their uniform earlier. “Now they will wear a purple Habaspuri kurta with fish design and black colour trousers. Students have liked the uniform,” he added.
He said the Bhulia community that weaves the Habaspuri saree and other materials will make the uniform and sell it to students. “One kurta will cost Rs 550,” he added. The uniform will be made in Chicheguda village, the place of origin of Habaspuri handloom.
“Altogether 512 PG students will wear purple kurta while we have designed green kurta for more than 2,000 undergraduate students,” he added.
Some colleges like the Sailabala Womens’ Autonomous College, Cuttack, have introduced uniforms made up of Odissi handloom.