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| Poonam Bhagat's traditional yet modern take on Khadi speaks of the versatility of the fabric |
Why (not) Khadi?
Were you thinking #khadi at all as something you would want
to have in your wardrobe? I don’t think you would have put a thought to it.
Unfortunately, the fabric has always been associated with
the era of independence and a time when India was trying to assert its ingenuity.
No one thought it to be a preference, even after we had gained our
independence. The man behind the indigenous fabric was indeed the Father of the
Nation.
But that was not enough for it to die a slow death in
obscurity. It is with the revival of the Khadi Gram Udyog that the fabric took
the fancy of politicians, even if reluctantly.
In 2002, a New York Times article quoted #Chnmaya Basu,
chief executive officer of Khadi and Village Industries Corp. that actually, "Khadi
industry is the way we keep Gandhi's dream alive," Basu then admitted that
it runs at a loss. But he also admitted, that "Khadi is a big job creator
for weavers in Indian villages as it is labor-intensive work. It is both an
emotional and economic cause for India."
The recently organised fashion show at the #NSCI grounds in
New Delhi, showed a different side of khadi to me. Let me be honest- I never could imagine the
fabric is so fluid and had such flexibility to the fancy of a designer.
The
most respected of India’s design fraternity have put their best foot forward
and re-defined the traditional fabric.
Speaking of the grandeur of #Rohit Bal was an understatement
when I saw his collection of anarkalis and gowns in layers of khadi fabric in
gorgeous whites, cream and fawn. The embellishment and embroideries on the
menswear makes you go back to the bygone era.
The men will just need the right
attitude to wear them.
The colours were bold and layering seemed to be the unbelievably
light. Spoke to Anju Modi and she explained how the fabric is totally
misunderstood and has the ability to be thinned down if needed.
Also the notion of khadi just being the common man’s fabric
is going to be broken. With the fashion fraternity tying up like this, it is
already travelling places, to start with Africa.
If anything else, the coming of Modi sarkaar is actually giving Indians pride in what belongs to them- #Khadi
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