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Khadi is a unique handspun and handwoven natural fiber cloth with tremendous aesthetic appeal. Also known as khaddar, the fabric is associated with the cultural heritage of India.
Considered as India’s national fabric, the cloth is usually woven from cotton but could also be made from silk and wool, known as khadi silk and woolen khadi, respectively.
As a fabric, khadi is soft but dense and is known for its rugged texture and comfortable feel. The cotton variant’s unique and versatile weave keeps people cool in summer as well as warm in winter.
Khadi is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent during the ancient Vedic times (around 5,000 BC), with detailed accounts of cotton and natural fibers being handwoven with gold thread by a handloom at the time.
The fabric is created using a simple and traditional process of weaving. First, the harvested cotton is brought back from the fields and cleaned. A comb is used to remove seeds and separate the fibers after which these fibers are cleaned with a process called ‘carding.’ This helps to produce the final fibers called ‘slivers.’
These slivers are then put through a ‘charkha,’ or an old-fashioned spinning wheel, and spun into yarn. This yarn is later woven by artisans, dyed and subsequently sold.
Khadi, a fabric that has clothed millions of people for centuries, appeals to quite a few around the world due to the fact that it is handcrafted, sustainable and eco-friendly. The fashion industry has also taken to it in a big way.
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