KHADI FLIES TO BHUTAN
Over the years, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), has stayed true to their unwavering mission to revive Indian handlooms and weaves by taking up many projects and awareness initiatives. Adding to this litany is their next endeavour wherein they are collaborating with the Indian embassy in Bhutan and Royal Textile Academy, to celebrate khadi with a show in Bhutan. “Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador of India to the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan is to be credited for her initiative. In an attempt to ignite the handloom mechanics and keep these techniques relevant even today, we are taking khadi to Bhutan. We will have designers from India and Bhutan present their interpretations of the fabric for a showcase,” says chairman FDCI, Sunil Sethi. On October 16, they will showcase a collection where khadi will be amalgamated with Bhutanese textiles to present modern silhouettes. The three Indian designers who will be showcasing are Anamika Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Samant Chauhan.
The Bhutanese designers Chandrika Gurung, Kencho Wangmo, Tshering Choden (Chimmi) and Sangay Choden, who will be amalgamating the two cultures and looms together, share their excitement and purpose of doing so. “It’s Gandhi ji’s 150th birth anniversary, so we wanted to recontextualise khadi. The Indian Ambassador to Bhutan got in touch with us and wanted us to do something with khadi. We also have traditional textiles just like khadi. For us, khadi is more about the processes of weaving and not just a fabric. It was good to osmose the two cultures and give our interpretation of khadi as this is the only way we can make old techniques survive in today’s times,” says Tshering Choden from Chimmi House of Design. Adding on to this, designer Chandrika Gurung who owns the label CDK says, “We will be showcasing our collection which will have khadi infused with handwoven Bhutanese textiles. I have taken inspiration from saris to make new silhouettes. There will be reversible garments that can be worn both ways – one side is khadi and the other side is a Bhutanese textile made by backstrap loom. It’s very exciting for us.”