Touching the right chord

Top-notch designers have always enjoyed working with ‘khadi’. Now, students of fashion too have begun experimenting with the fabric in a big way.

It is not only the feel of the fabric but also the immense possibilities it offers that have got these youngsters hooked on to it.

They are also driven by a desire to shun anything that is artificial and causes harm to the environment.

Namratha R S, a student of fashion design, Mount Carmel College, says she chose to work with ‘khadi’ because of its elegance and the fact that it is easy to
handle.

“I would like to create Western outfits because it is popular with the people of my generation,” she says. 

She is also impressed with the features of the fabric. “It is versatile and leaves one cool in summer. The variations of ‘khadi’ can also keep one warm during winter. Moreover, ‘khadi’ keeps the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi alive,” she adds.

It is the durability and comfort factor and eco-friendly nature that prompted Sufaiyah Taranum K, another student of fashion design, to work with the fabric.

“You can experiment with ‘khadi’ and play around with it to create different styles. It’s a natural fabric and causes no harm. This is another factor that makes it so popular, especially at a time when we are talking about environmental conservation,” adds Sufaiyah. 

 The fabric’s unique identity and history has definitely left an impression on these young people.  Ria, a student, waits for the ‘Khadi Bhandar’ exhibition to arrive to shop for ‘kurtas,’ tops and saris.

“There’s an unmistakable elegance and style about ‘khadi’ that you just cannot miss. You can wear ‘khadi’ clothes as it is without taking any extra effort to make it look good. It’s stiff yet durable unlike cotton,” says Ria, who has an inexhaustible collection of garments in ‘khadi’.

“‘Khadi’ can’t be underrated in any way,” informs Kavya S, a professional. “You can wear it several times and it will still look neat. The wrinkled look further enhances the structure of the garment and gives it an altogether different identity,” she says. It’s a light, breathable and classy fabric, according to her. 

Even if one picks the loudest colour in ‘khadi’, it will not look jarring, observe Akanksha and Nitika, both students. “In cotton, the brightest colour looks brighter but it’s not so with ‘khadi’. I always prefer to wear colours in ‘khadi’ that match my skin tone,” says Akanksha. Nitika pitches in “Any embroidery or work of art on ‘khadi’ stands out and makes the garment look attractive.”   

Vaania Kapoor Achuthan, international swimmer, says nothing can beat the craftsmanship involved in ‘khadi’.

“You can mix multiple fabrics and create something new but you can’t do that with ‘khadi’. You can’t mix fabrics in ‘khadi’ because it will distort the delicate look,” says Vaania. She says the choices in ‘khadi’ in both Western and traditional wear are endless. “You now have dresses, tops, gowns and Western wear made from ‘khadi’,” adds Vaania.