In a remarkable display of creativity and sustainability, design students from JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Berhampur, Odisha, have created a massive 6x5 ft portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi entirely from discarded fabric. The project, titled Fabric of Respect, was completed without using any glue, paint, or artificial materials.
The artwork was crafted over 20 days, involving three dedicated student teams. One team collected waste cloth from tailoring units, the second prepared and ironed the fabric, and the third meticulously hand-stitched each piece to form the portrait. Even the smallest details, including Modi’s spectacles and beard, were rendered using carefully chosen fabric tones.
The portrait prominently features Sambalpuri sarees, celebrating Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. According to student Suprava Patra, the team devoted 8 to 10 hours daily to the project, even during exams, demonstrating how waste materials can be transformed into meaningful art. The work emphasizes teamwork, discipline, and environmental awareness alongside artistic innovation.
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The creation was unveiled in the presence of Berhampur MLA K. Anil Kumar, who lauded the students for combining sustainability with design excellence. “This is not just an artwork; it reflects how purposeful design education can foster creativity and social responsibility,” he said, praising the institute’s director, Ashish Ranjan Sabat, for guiding students toward meaningful projects.
Sabat explained that the portrait is intended as a tribute to PM Modi’s leadership and India’s progress, reflecting the admiration of the younger generation. The institute plans to present the artwork to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and later send it to the Prime Minister, with future projects including a tribute to Swami Vivekananda.
The Fabric of Respect stands as a symbol of how sustainable practices and traditional craft techniques can merge to produce large-scale, innovative artworks. At a time when digital mediums dominate, these students have proven that creativity, patience, and collaboration can create enduring, tangible masterpieces.
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