Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Khadi's Journey From Gandhi's Charkha To Global Fashion Runways
Khadi is a special cloth made by hand in India.
A long time ago, it became a symbol of India's fight for freedom, and Gandhi's spinning wheel, called the charkha, is part of that story.
Wearing khadi meant showing love for your country.
Today, khadi is a fashionable fabric seen on runways around the world.
Two fashion designers talked about what khadi should be now.
Designer Mr. Haasan says people should pick khadi because it is beautiful and desirable, not because they feel they have to.
Designer Mr. Chauhan hopes that one day people will love the design of a jacket or dress first, and only later discover it happens to be khadi.
Mr. Chauhan also says the people who make khadi must always be treated fairly as it enters luxury and experimental fashion.
Both designers agree that khadi should not be worn just out of duty.
Khadi has evolved from a symbol of India's freedom struggle into a coveted fabric on global fashion runways.
Designer Haasan says khadi should be chosen for its beauty and desirability, not because it is traditional or patriotic.
Haasan wants khadi to become part of everyday wardrobes as well as high fashion.
Designer Chauhan hopes the khadi category disappears from people's minds, so they love the design first and discover it is khadi later.
Chauhan cautions that khadi's future in luxury, streetwear and experimental fashion must not come at the cost of the hands and communities who make it.
- Who
- Fashion designers Haasan and Chauhan, who share their visions for khadi's future
- What
- Khadi has gone from a symbol of India's freedom struggle, tied to Gandhi's charkha, to a coveted fashion fabric, and the designers explain how they want it to be worn
- When
- Not specified in the articles
- Where
- India (origin of the freedom struggle); global fashion runways
- Why
- Designers believe khadi should be chosen for its beauty and design rather than out of tradition or patriotic obligation
Khadi's identity should be explicit
Khadi's label should fade away
How khadi should be positioned in modern fashion
Khadi's identity should be explicit
Haasan wants khadi to be deliberately chosen because it is beautiful and desirable, becoming part of everyday wardrobes and high fashion as a recognized fabric.
Khadi's label should fade away
Chauhan hopes the khadi category disappears from people's minds, so that someone loves a well-designed jacket or dress purely for the design and later discovers it happens to be khadi.
- Subject
- Khadi's evolution from a freedom-struggle symbol to a coveted fashion fabric
- Historical roots
- Symbol of India's freedom struggle, associated with Gandhi's charkha (spinning wheel)
- Designer 1
- Haasan - khadi should be chosen for beauty and desirability and join everyday wardrobes and high fashion
- Designer 2
- Chauhan - people should want the design first and discover khadi afterwards
- Chauhan's caveat
- Khadi's future in luxury, streetwear and experimental fashion must not come at the cost of the hands and communities that make it
- Fashion segments
- Everyday wardrobes, high fashion, luxury, streetwear, experimental fashion
- Shared goal
- Khadi should not be worn out of obligation, tradition or patriotism alone