 |
| KHADI textiles from various regions. |
Khādī or khaddar originated in India as a fully hand crafted textile. It encompasses a lifestyle, a simple pure process of forming yarn and creating cloth by spinning and weaving by hand without electricity. The raw materials may be cotton, silk, or wool which are spun into threads on a spinning wheel called a charkha then made into a limited length of textile on a handloom. Khadi is a very essential cloth, it has the soft twist imparted by the hand - this maintains the yarn hairiness to an extent which gives maximum comfort. It is the only fabric where the play of texture is so unique that no two fabrics will be absolutely identical, thus lending to its exclusivity and inimitability in terms of feel and texture. It is a versatile fabric, cool in the summer and warm in the winter.(The loom used in the weaving of Khadi interlaces the threads in the end textile in a manner that allows maximum air to permeate the body) Khadi is acknowledged as one of the most comfortable fabrics ever known, it is resilient and becomes even more soft and coveted with wear.
HISTORY
Khadi shot into prominence in 1920's when the Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi began promoting the spinning of Khadi for rural self-employment and self-reliance in India. He called for the public burning of British mill-made cloth, and urged patriotic Indians to wear only the homespun fabric thus Khadi became integral and iconic to the Swadeshi movement. In his spare time, Gandhi-ji would actively spin his own thread on the charkha spinning wheel thus he became the very symbol driving Independence. This intimate act gave great incentive to the masses of India to join in the Khadi and Cottage Industry movement. It truly was one of the earliest green movements of the 20th century. Thus in India, Khadi still symbolizes the political ideals of Independence itself, and to this day most of India's politicians and activists are seen only in Khadi clothing. The flag of India is only allowed to be made from this material. The people of the original Indian independence movement were often heard chanting while spinning on the 'charkha' ''Charkha chala chalake, Lenge swaraj lenge'' (translation : As we whirl the charkha to spin the thread, we will regain our freedom.)
ECO FABRIC
Environment + Ecology occupy a prominent place among key issues faced by the world today. In our degenerating environment, efforts are paramount to produce 100% natural and organic textiles. Khadi is a sustainable product. Its process from raw material to cloth involves no environmental pollution. Khadi production is integrated as a support + employment network for a majority of Indians in rural areas(70 % of the artisans involved in the process of Khadi production are women as they can work independently to earn their living and add due support to their families.) Khadi production is labour-intensive yet production growth is sustainable by providing more employment with investment of very meager capital, especially in the rural areas. It enables full development of locally available raw materials and human resources. 90% of AtelierOM Collections and petiteOM are made in this beautiful textile.
FUTURE
Today for Khadi there exists a very tough competition with the modern industrial world in light of the dialogue with this awakened age of the present. Khadi is among the most progressively modern of all textiles, one that not only has desirable material possibilities but also consonance with the native ecology and sensitivity to the human condition that sustains it. It advocates that fact that even in the post-industrial world, self-worth and self sufficiency are acknowledged as a compensation for human labour. Yet, Khadi is still in a struggle to keep its craft alive. It is our global responsibility to understand and inject this Khadi craft into our world's marketplace so that the livelihood of many farmers and craftspeople will continue to uphold the tradition of non-industrialized textile production for the immediate benefit to this beautiful planet and to the well being of future generations. In melding the ideas of a slow fashion movement with the global clothing industry, we build a new vision for fashion in the era of sustainability: where pleasure and fashion are linked with awareness and responsibility.
AtelierOM partners with KHADI spinners & weavers in Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Through our METTA trust, we support a network of farmers & tribals in Orissa in the organic farming of cotton(a four year process to certification) and likewise support similar food systems.
Visit our "SHOP & SUPPORT" page for more info about our Design Collections and work.
HISTORY
Khadi shot into prominence in 1920's when the Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi began promoting the spinning of Khadi for rural self-employment and self-reliance in India. He called for the public burning of British mill-made cloth, and urged patriotic Indians to wear only the homespun fabric thus Khadi became integral and iconic to the Swadeshi movement. In his spare time, Gandhi-ji would actively spin his own thread on the charkha spinning wheel thus he became the very symbol driving Independence. This intimate act gave great incentive to the masses of India to join in the Khadi and Cottage Industry movement. It truly was one of the earliest green movements of the 20th century. Thus in India, Khadi still symbolizes the political ideals of Independence itself, and to this day most of India's politicians and activists are seen only in Khadi clothing. The flag of India is only allowed to be made from this material. The people of the original Indian independence movement were often heard chanting while spinning on the 'charkha' ''Charkha chala chalake, Lenge swaraj lenge'' (translation : As we whirl the charkha to spin the thread, we will regain our freedom.)
ECO FABRIC
FUTURE
Today for Khadi there exists a very tough competition with the modern industrial world in light of the dialogue with this awakened age of the present. Khadi is among the most progressively modern of all textiles, one that not only has desirable material possibilities but also consonance with the native ecology and sensitivity to the human condition that sustains it. It advocates that fact that even in the post-industrial world, self-worth and self sufficiency are acknowledged as a compensation for human labour. Yet, Khadi is still in a struggle to keep its craft alive. It is our global responsibility to understand and inject this Khadi craft into our world's marketplace so that the livelihood of many farmers and craftspeople will continue to uphold the tradition of non-industrialized textile production for the immediate benefit to this beautiful planet and to the well being of future generations. In melding the ideas of a slow fashion movement with the global clothing industry, we build a new vision for fashion in the era of sustainability: where pleasure and fashion are linked with awareness and responsibility.
AtelierOM partners with KHADI spinners & weavers in Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Through our METTA trust, we support a network of farmers & tribals in Orissa in the organic farming of cotton(a four year process to certification) and likewise support similar food systems.
Visit our "SHOP & SUPPORT" page for more info about our Design Collections and work.
 | |
|
All sales inquiries: AtelierOM@gmail.com
