KHADI: THE FABRIC OF OUR INDEPENDENCE

KHADI: THE FABRIC OF OUR INDEPENDENCE

We have heard a lot about khadi, as a fabric or in our history lessons.

But what exactly is khadi fabric?

Well, before diving to know what exactly is khadi, let’s quickly run through the meaning of handspun and handwoven.

HANDSPUN DEFINITION- Yarn is said to be hand-spun when fingers are used to pull and twist the fibres to form yarns. Often charkhas or spinning wheels are used to make handspun yarn.

HANDWOVEN DEFINITION- When fabric is produced using yarns manually on handloom without the use of electricity and thus, does not produce any kind of pollution, then the fabric is called handwoven.

WHAT IS KHADI?

Any fabric which is handwoven using handspun yarn, is called Khadi. It is a weaving technique and not essentially a fabric material in itself. Often, fabric which is made using this technique is called Khadi.


IS KHADI AND COTTON THE SAME FABRIC?

Most commonly cotton is used to make such khadi fabrics, so it is often assumed that khadi is cotton. But it can actually be made of silk, wool or any other fibre as long as handspun yarn is used and then weaving is done manually in a handloom. SIGNIFICANCE OF KHADI IN INDIA’S FREEDOM MOVEMENT Khadi was an important symbol during India’s fight for independence and it sent a message of self-reliance or atma-nirbharta. It was also a means of demonstrating to the British the dignity of poverty and the equality of Indian civilization.

Khadi was an important thing during India’s fight for independence. It was seen as a symbol of independence, self-sufficiency, and resistance against the British Raj. Mahatma Gandhi himself was a big fan of khadi and believed that it could help India break free from the economic and cultural control of the British. He encouraged Indians to spin their own cloth using a charkha (spinning wheel) and to wear khadi as a way of boycotting British goods. It was also a means of demonstrating to the British the dignity of poverty and the equality of Indian civilization. Khadi also became a way for Indians to express their cultural identity and pride in their traditions. Before the Industrial revolution, fabrics were majorly made by this process of hand-spinning and hand weaving. These fabrics were exported from India and they became very popular in Europe and Britain in the 17th century. They became so popular that they threatened their local industries, so ultimately they were banned by the end of the 17th century.

WHAT MAKES KHADI SO SPECIAL?

Khadi has a very comfortable feel, which means the more you use it, the softer it becomes. Plus, this fabric has the ability to keep you warm in winters and cool in summers. Today, khadi is still an important part of India’s cultural heritage and is celebrated for its eco-friendliness and sustainability.

PRO TIP FOR THE NEXT TIME YOU BUY KHADI

Don’t forget to see the tags to check if it is both handspun and handwoven. If the tag does not mention any information on this, then do get it clarified from the shopping assistant. If they mention it is only hand woven, it is not 100% khadi as it is not handspun. Let’s not allow greenwashing to mislead us when buying Khadi the next time.

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