From being the common man's fabric to a hot favourite on the ramp, the colourless hand-spun fabric has come a long way since its inception. KAVERI WAGHELA picks quirky creations with contrasting prints, colours and textures from Khadi Bhandars across the city to come out with a literal piece of history
“Show me the one with Ikat print,” asks the lady. The salesperson nods, “I am sorry ma’am, it is sold out.” These are the kind of conversations that one overhears in the mammoth two-storey building at Khadi Bhandar in Fort.
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The Khadi Bhandar in Fort still retains the old-world aura with its high-ceiling fans, wooden furniture and checkered floors. It is a favourite among celebrities and fashion designers who get the best varieties of cotton, silk and hand-spun Khadi here. Pics/ Atul Kamble
The store, which stands at the busy street On DN Road, has been around since the past 63 years. “As time passes, customers change and so do their choices. We have to cater to them for our survival. But we still maintain on our quality. We have bright colours in Khadi now which were almost absent some years ago,” explains Mahesh Manjrekar, manager, Khadi Bhandar, Fort.
It is true; Khadi is not regarded as a raw material anymore. Says Jayantilal Rupani, owner of the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan in Andheri West. “The fabric is so versatile. One can wear it over jeans or create a jacket or a crop top that can be worn over long skirts. Many people complain about the stiffness of its texture but it is the coarse firmness of the fabric that creates a form that adds sophistication.”
Hand-spun cotton khadi sarees in bright colours at Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan in Andheri. Price: Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000
With the increase in demand, the modern Khadi is going through a complete makeover with ikat and batik prints being the top sellers, even the modern tie-dye techniques (blending a colour with another) being implemented on the kurtas, bags and sarees. “People get a shock of their life when they see khadi in a different avatar. Batik and Ikat print sarees are very famous among the connoisseurs, especially the ones who know how to carry it off. The young ones, mostly go for coloured fabric or a bandhgala Nehru jacket in earthy tones of brown and black. It is just that people have to change their perception of it being only for a formal purpose,” asserts Rupani. It is about time that the Mahatma’s fabric gets its due. Coloured or printed, traditional or modern, which ones do you covet?
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