Khadi-the pride of India
Introduction
Khadi is an Indian fabric. Khadi is also known by another name ‘Khaddar’. It is made by spinning the threads on an instrument known as ‘Charkha’. During the pre-independence era, the khadi-making movement gained momentum under the leadership of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhiji. This khadi making and wearing movement started to discourage Indians from wearing foreign clothing.
Khadi before independence was considered as the fabric of the political leaders and the rural population. But now it has made its way into the wardrobe of fashion-conscious people. The current situation is that demand is greater than supply. Previously, the type of khadi available was cotton khadi, which had a very thick texture and feel. However, many varieties of khadi such as khadi silk, khadi wool and khadi cotton are now available, making it a fashionable and pleasing fabric for the masses.
His concept was developed by Mahatma Gandhi. It was a symbol of political agendas during India’s struggle for independence against British rule. It was primarily a means of providing employment for the unemployed rural population of India at the time. The Indian flag must also be made of khadi material. Therefore, it has national importance, we could even call it the national fabric of India.
Overview
Khadi is a versatile fabric. It has the unique property of keeping the wearer warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This fabric has a coarse texture and wrinkles easily, so to keep it firm and stiff, starch must be added to it. When washed, this fabric enhances more, so the more you wash it, the better it looks. Khadi does not wear out easily for years, at least for 4-5 years. Very attractive and designer clothing is made by working by hand on the garments made from it. Khadi spinning is usually done by girls and women and weaving mostly by men. During the spinning of khadi, the threads are intertwined in such a way as to provide the passage of air circulation in the fabric. Apart from this unique property, it also provides warmth in the winter season, which is quite an amazing factor.
Khadi cotton is required to be starched so that it does not wrinkle easily. It comes in many colors and is not harmful to the skin like synthetic fabrics. This cotton is very soothing in the summer season as there is a lot of ventilation, it has the ability to wick away moisture, therefore it easily absorbs sweat and keeps the wearer cool and dry. Khadi cotton comes in plain and patterned fabrics. The most common attire made from khadi cotton is the ‘Kurta’. Many types of clothing are made from khadi cotton such as sarees, salwar suits, cloth yarns, western tops, shirts, pants, skirts, scarves, etc. It is a very durable fabric.
In khadi silk, the ratio of khadi to silk fabric is 50:50. This fabric requires dry cleaning. It shrinks about 3% after the first wash. It is quite an expensive fabric. Khadi silk provides a royal and rich look. The various types of garments made from khadi silk are salwar kameez, kurta pajamas, saris, dupattas, shirts, vests, and jackets. Garments like kurta, jacket, sari blouses require lining to ensure their longevity.
Previously, khadi was dyed in earth tones and used to make traditional garments, but now designers are experimenting with dyeing khadi in bold colors like lime green, purple, baby pink, turquoise blue, etc. Dressy clothes like mini skirts, halter tops, racing tops, tunics, etc. they are made of khadi.
Khadi is a hand woven and spun fabric that takes time to make. It is mainly manufactured in rural areas of India. In earlier times it was considered as the fabric of the poor peasants and peasants. But wearing khadi is no longer for the poor, many high-profile personalities and financially strong people prefer to wear it. It is considered as one of the most beautiful Indian fabrics. The khadi wearer gets a royal and distinguishable look due to its drape and style. It symbolizes luxury and uniqueness.
Government policies
Khadi and Village Industries Commission’ is the Indian government body that promotes the use of khadi. The production and sale of Khadi belongs to the small-scale industry sector. This governing body was created by a law that was approved by Parliament. This gave a boost to the khadi manufacturing sector of India, as a result many new khadi gramodyog outlets were opened across the country. These shops sell both sewn and unsewn khadi fabrics. Every year from the date of October 3 to January 29, all khadi gramodyog bhavans provide discounts to the public on various khadi products. It comes under the category of Indian Hand Loom. This sector also generates employment for the rural population of India. The Indian government holds various exhibitions and trade fairs in India and abroad to promote this fabric.
Small-scale industries engaged in the manufacture of khadi obtain economic redemption for raw materials and production costs from the Indian government. According to a recent survey conducted, it provides employment to 14.97 lakhs of people, the total annual production of khadi is 111.49 million square meters. ms.
For decades, Khadi has evolved from a freedom fighter’s identity fabric to a fashion garment. Today, there is such a growing demand for khadi that despite the thousands of workers involved in the spinning and production of khadi cloth, market demand is not being met.
conclusion
Khadi has gained worldwide recognition as it is handmade, durable, long lasting and organic in nature. The fabric is produced by the masses for the masses. It is associated with Gandhi’s philosophy and also makes a fashion statement. Through khadi weaving, the weaver expresses art and design with the spindle and the loom. It is widely accepted in the Indian fashion circle. Leading fashion designers now include it in their collection by designing clothes using khadi material. There is a high demand in the international market, especially in Western countries.
Reference: