KATHMANDU: The products made up of Allo thread and fibre have allured visitors in the 15th International Industrial Trade Fair and Cottage Industry Festival-2019 underway at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

People's attraction has increased on Allo-made coat, waist coat, jwari coat, cap, sandal, shoe, shawl and bag. There is constant flow of people coming to purchase the Allo-made products in the festival, said Chitrakali Budhamagar, proprietor of Kodi Himal Allo Industry based in Naubahini Rural Municipality-6 in Pyuthan district.

Her stall has 'Dhaka topi', traditional cap at the price range of Rs 500 to Rs 800 and 'jwari coat', waist coat with price in between Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000. Bhdhamagar said people's attraction to Allo products has increased as pure Nepali raw materials found at an altitude between 900 to 2500 metres above the sea level are used to manufacture the products.

Allo fiber is made up of mettle, species of wild plant. The clothes are manufactured by processing the allo harvested each year.

It is shared that one year old shoots from the plant are cut and dried and the bark is peeled and cooked to extract the fiber. "The Allo-made clothes are beneficial to the people with blood pressure and diabetes", she said. Budhamagar has provided employment to 50 human resources including six from her family in the Allo factory. She had started the enterprises in 2007 by weaving clothes with the processed nettle fibres. The small business started with Rs 90,000 now has expanded to Rs 5 million.

Likewise, many visitors are also seen at the stall of Chinari Women Partnership Industry Group of Ghorahi, Dang in the festival. Prem Kumari Pun, proprietor of the industry, said Dhaka cap and small purse products of Allo are being sold out in considerable volume from her stall. "I have sold out the allo products up to Rs 35,000 in a day", Pun added.

The festival also showcases leather products and sari in the stalls of entrepreneurs from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The festival that began at Bhrikutimandap from March 7 would last on March 11.