The unscrambled charm of khadi has always been remembered as a symbol of Indian battle for freedom.
The simple, textured, versatile, and hand spun fabric is truly called the legacy of this huge country. It is shared by all, irrespective of region or caste. Backed by India’s rich history, this fabric is the most sustainable textile ever.
Titbits from the History of Khadi:
As a handwoven cloth, Khadi clothes deeply clutch the historical journey of this nation. During the Swadeshi Movement, when foreign foods were boycotted by the masses to resist the British influence. The movement was supported by the mill owners but Mahatma Gandhi was against mill-made cloth because it would again create the monopoly of mill owners while weavers would be denied any opportunity to earn. That was when the Khadi movement began. With Mahatma spinning himself, everyone was motivated to become a part of this movement. It led to rural self-reliance.
How Khadi Transformed Over the Years?
Since independence, in the past seven decades, India has progressed at an unprecedented speed. However, it still beholds the legacy of Khadi. It is ingrained in the social fibre of the country. The governments have taken a lot of initiatives to bring this fabric to a global platform. Though it was stuck for a few decades in the warp of time, the textile has survived the turbulent times to emerge stronger. Today, Khadi clothes are creating ripples in the world of fashion with their unique charm and earthy feel. It is now a component of high-street couture with leading fashion designers integrating this fabric into their masterpieces.
The Trends of Khadi:
The budding designers are reviving khadi with support from the government. They are trying to help the handloom industry and local weavers. At the same time, it is an initiative to promote the indigenous industries at the grassroots levels in rural India. The current trends of Khadi boast of luxurious silk sarees, shirts, kurtas, stoles, and lots more.
The ethnic feel and elegant motifs of these fabrics ignite the interests of people in this beautiful textile. With a focus on production techniques, the designers are reinventing khadi for catering to the millennial generation. They are merging the traditions with contemporary fashion for making ethnic and environmentally safe fabric.
What’s In the Future of Khadi?
Just like its glorious past, Khadi is a fabric having rich prospects for the future as well. With more designers exploring the fashion potential of this fabric, it is expected to grow even further to become a phenomenal success. In fact, more focus is being laid on introducing technological innovations in this field to give a push to the Khadi sales.
It can be said that a little more professionalism is required to enhance the mass appeal and marketing penetration of this fabric to the global markets as well.
