KHADI : FROM GANDHI'S MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH TO ECO -FRIENDLY FASHION FOR A GREENER EARTH

   

When we revisit Mahatma Gandhi’s My Experiments with Truth, the story of khadi is not just about clothing but about awakening. Gandhi narrates how he moved from wearing Western suits as a barrister to embracing khadi, a shift that marked the birth of a national and ethical movement.

Reflecting on his turning point, he wrote:

“I presented the bulk of my foreign clothes to a friend, keeping only what was necessary. The Indian spirit within me was beginning to assert itself.”

The spinning wheel (charkha) became his symbol of self-reliance and resistance to colonial economics. Gandhi observed:

“I came to the conclusion that political swaraj could not be had without khadi and the spinning wheel. It was the outward symbol of a nation’s self-reliance.”

This was not a superficial choice. He considered wearing foreign cloth an act of injustice against the poor:

“Henceforth I resolved to use only khadi, the product of our villages. I considered it a sin to wear foreign cloth while our own people were naked and starving.”

For Gandhi, spinning was both a discipline and an act of compassion:

“When I spin, I think of the millions of our brothers and sisters who have no clothes to cover themselves. Khadi links me with their suffering.”

Thus, khadi was born not merely as fabric but as a movement of truth, simplicity, and service.

 

Khadi and Today’s Green Clothing Movement

Fast forward to today, and khadi’s message feels more urgent than ever. It has transformed from a political statement into an eco-conscious fabric aligned with sustainability movements:

• Eco-friendly: Handspun and handwoven, khadi is biodegradable and leaves a negligible carbon footprint.
• Water and energy conscious: Unlike industrial textiles, khadi production requires minimal water and no electricity.
• Artisan empowerment: It sustains local economies and ensures fair livelihoods for craftspeople.
• Slow fashion: Khadi garments are durable, timeless, and promote mindful consumption in contrast to fast fashion waste.

 

Khadi as Green Clothing for a Greener Earth

Khadi is not merely a relic of the past—it is a living fabric of the future. Gandhi’s charkha, once a tool for freedom, now spins a message for the planet: wear simple, live sustainably, and choose green clothing for a greener Earth.