Its time to take the 'K' route!

Okay, so the netas did their bit and paraded around in khadis, though not always managing to make it cool. Rochelle Pinto on the fabric that is slowly high cool quotient.

Okay, so the netas did their bit and paraded around in khadis, though not always managing to make it cool. But are you sweating it out in satins and denim for chic’s sake? It’s time to come out from under that rock and participate in the fashion revolution that’s sweeping international runways. After food items and skin care products, it’s the fashion industry that has gone organic.

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Eco dresser
Uber-cool vegetarian Stella McCartney brought international acclaim to organic clothing, made strictly from natural products through eco-friendly processes. But India has always been miles ahead in that department. Starting with Mahatma Gandhi’s Khadi movement, the styling of natural fabrics has always been at the top of our game.

Asmita Marwah recently won rave reviews for her Autumn/Winter collection where she married high quality silk with an unlikely companion — khadi. Instead of subscribing to the theory that khadi can’t be fashionable, the petite designer used high-quality cotton weaves with embellishments and kalamkari work to present an undeniably chic line. “It’s wonderful that the khadi fabric has come back into vogue,” she says. “India has always followed the organic movement, from our use of vegetable dyes to our fabrics.”

Marwah goes on to explain the raw appeal of khadi cloth. “The off-white colour of raw, unbleached khadi is unmatched. It is soothing in its appeal.”

Designer Rahul Mishra has evolved his aesthetic around natural fabrics and is also actively involved in supporting artisans around the country. “People don’t understand the meaning of the word khadi. They forget that the term encompasses the entire movement towards home-grown and handmade products, be it agarbatti sticks, papad or fabric.”

His comment is supported by Madhu Jain, an expert member of the Khadi and Village Industries commission. “This industry has received major impetus after the focus on ecological products evolved. In fact today, almost 90 lakh people are involved in the industry, resulting in a turnover of around 15,000 crores.” Jain illustrates the eco-friendly nature of the business, saying, “We have brought in semi-automated charkhas with multiple spindles for the workers. These actually generate electricity as they spin, which means that you can light up a bulb and spin cloth at the same time.”

Style comes first
As far as khadi fabric goes, the younger designers understand the value of keeping things natural. Menswear designer Digvijay Singh explains, “Khadi works best with our climate and can be turned from a slim voile to a fabric with heavy fall. It absorbs natural dyes and carries Indian hues with class.”

He suggests churi trousers worn with crisp shirts. “The look is androgynous, so women can benefit from their boyfriend’s closet,” he laughs.

Marwah sums up the argument, saying, “Khadi breathes, has a beautiful fall and absorbs colour like a charm. All you need is an innovative mind to see the possibilities.. and the right attitude to carry it off.”