Khadi – Earth-Friendly Home Furnishing Fabric
Create a Green Home by Using Indian Hand-woven Cloth
Oct 1, 2009
Khadi is Indian handspun and hand-woven cloth. It is synonymous with Mahatma Gandhi and India’s freedom movement.
It was in 1921 that Gandhi launched a movement to persuade Indians to spin their own cloth or buy hand-spun cloth. This movement was aimed at rejecting foreign products that were choking the Indian market, and thereby make the economy stronger. It provided jobs to millions of rural poor especially women.
In the beginning khadi was linked to freedom fighters, politicians and the poor. Today is has reinvented itself into a fashion statement. The Indian Government has gone a long way in their effort to promote the khadi industry. They set up the Khadi and Village Industries Commission and also encouraged designers to use the fabric in new ways. The beginning was seen in the collection presented in Mumbai in 1989 by the KVIC which saw nearly 85 khadi garments designed by Devika Bhojwani.
Production of Khadi
- Cotton is first hand picked and the fibers are separated from the seeds by a sharp comb-like object.
- It is then ginned into slivers. These are spun into yarn on a spinning wheel. It was this hand-cranked spinning wheel called charkha that became a symbol of a free India.
- The spun yarn is wound onto reels which then go to the weavers. Handlooms are used to weave the yarn into fabric.
Khadi is mainly woven in pure cotton, but it can also be woven in silk and wool or in a mix of fibers.
The making of khadi is eco-friendly since it does not rely on electric units and the manufacturing processes do not generate any toxic waste products.
In the Indian states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, organic khadi is produced by eliminating all chemicals involved in the farming of cotton and during weaving and dyeing of fabric.
Characteristics of Khadi Fabric
- It is light and soft making it comfortable to wear.
- Its weave creates air pockets which make it cool in summers and warm in winters.
- It has a handcrafted self-texture making each khadi cloth unique and expensive.
- Its inherent strength makes it highly durable.
- Certain fine khadi, such as mulmul has a translucent quality.
- Khadi silk which had upto 50% silk is priced for it richness and sheen.
- Different Indian states produce different varieties of Khadi. In colder northern states woolen khadi is produced whereas in Madhya Pradesh special weaves such as Tussar Silk are made. The fabric is dyed in a variety of colors and decorated by block prints or it is tie-dyed. In Gujarat khadi is embellished with embroidery and mirror-work.
Maintaining Khadi
- Khadi has to be dry cleaned or washed in cold water with mild soap.
- It has to be starched to prevent it from crumbling.
- Dark colors tend to run so have to be washed separately.
Use Khadi at Home
Khadi is so versatile that it can be used in various forms around the house.
It is made into durries, upholstery, cushions, mats, bed-sheets, and curtains. Artisans in each part of India have a unique weave and embellishment for the cloth so a variety of textures and colors are available.
The khadi industry ensures the employment of millions of rural poor. Moreover the production of this fabric causes a minimum impact on the environment, making it a must for those willing to go green!
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