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Khadi might no longer be just an Indian concept
When we think of India we think of colors, flavors, diversity, variety…and we’ve never shied away from sharing it with the rest of the world. Our nation has given the world the number zero, Chess, yoga, meditation, ayurveda, the skill of plastic surgery and now we’re trying to get the Indian craft of Khadi to a global platform.
India Day at the renowned London Fashion Week had an unlikely guest making its much needed comeback- Khadi.
Indian designers put together a show displaying on a global stage the potential that this fabric holds.
The fabric , promoted by Mahatma Gandhi hundreds of years back as one for self-reliance and nationalism, till this date holds just as much if not more significance.
12 skilled Indian designers from India’s Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) , all women, along with several other local artisans from all over the country collaborated on this project that was organized by Indian High Commission along with London School of Trends.
The show started with a display of 40 modern garments with a touch of the Indian aesthetic. Various colors and tailoring methods were merged with the traditional ethnic clothing to form a fusion of fascinating designs to exhibit exactly how far this nationally celebrated material could enhance the fashion industry.
The 25 outfits that followed were pure Khadi with the intention of celebrating the spirit of Nationalism and Independence that it holds.
Khadi is the root of the Make in India movement, it displays the sense of humility that we hold and the power of simplicity, however apart from its rich history it might also end up saving our futures.
In the midst of the sustainability movement the Indian fabric might just be exactly what the world needs.
Apart from its cultural significance it is sustainable too. It’s handmade, and made using completely organic constituents, ranging from the material to the paints.
Clothes are one of the most widely used products, and in the world of fast fashion they are also becoming one of the biggest contributors to pollution worldwide. Many people have become aware of the impact of non sustainable clothing in today’s world and are preferring garments that can help save the world we live in.
Even the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi recently made headlines by simply wearing a blue jacket…made from recycled PET bottles!
Apart from his encouragement to environment friendly fashion he’s also a direct supporter of bringing the charkha movement back, upholding the slogan ‘Khadi for Nation, Khadi for Fashion.’
In the audience of the India day show that took place in London were multiple foreign delegates and leaders. We do hope that the message of this underrated fabric got to them and soon we’d be able to see our Nation’s fabric being as common as cotton clothing is.
