Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 30: Many city-based designers and the Khadi and Village Industries Board of the state are coming up with new designs and creative ideas to modify khadi to attract youngsters.
Apart from the regular kurti and shirts people had very few options to pick and choose from in the past. But over the past few years some designers from the state are incorporating new and latest designs to make khadi attractive.
Rashmi Mohapatra who mostly works on handloom and traditional fabrics of the state says, “Khadi should undergo a whole revolution. New and latest designs and variations should be included. We have been designing trendy dress materials with Orissa handloom and khadi and promoting them in the global market. In the international market khadi is very popular but in India popularity seems to be in the wane thanks to the invasion of fashionable brands.”
Rashmi whose creations were showcased in Bangalore Fashion Week held in January works on western and Indian motifs on Orissa fabric. “Using handloom and khadi we have designed western attire, trousers, shorts and jackets to attract the younger generation,” she said.
“We wear all kinds of material. Why can’t at least one stylish khadi dress – the pride of the country –in our wardrobes? If each one us purchases at least one khadi dress it will boost the khadi market and help weavers greatly,” added Rashmi.
“The basic problem with Khadi is that youngsters consider khadi as a garment suited to the tastes of the elderly. The main reason for khadi not being popular among youth is that it is very simple and still available in old designs. Youth crave for trendy and fashionable things to match theirs look and make them cool and stylish,” said Debasis Kumar Mohanta, another fashion designer based in Bhubaneswar.
Debasis along with his team is engaged in the rigorous toil of making khadi garb fashionable for men and women. He designs waistcoats, jackets, shirts, shorts and kurti for men and sarees, anarkalis, kurtis and tops for womenfolk.
“I normally prefer to wear khadi and even encourage my friends to do so. They are comfortable in khadi that don’t exacerbate rashes and irritations during summer. We have been regularly working with weavers and trying to impress on them the need to adopt new ideas. We have also organised a show where handloom and khadi garments were showcased and received huge appreciation. We used different cuts, neckline variations and appliqué work. If we purchase khadi dress material it would help weavers working at the grassroots who are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet,” he added.
The Orissa Khadi and Village Industries Board (OK&VIB) has also come up with plans of promoting khadi among youngsters. The board plans to start khadi clubs in different colleges and educational institutions for which purpose student involvement in promoting khadi assumes importance. It has involved some of the leading fashion designers from the city to fine-tune khadi to attract youth.
