The curtain came down on the India Runway Week 2017 at Tyagraj Sports Complex in New Delhi with Hyderabad-based designer Shravan Kumar presenting his all Khadi collection. “I have been working with Khadi for more than two decades now and it has helped me to witness a rare, dying and endangered craft of making a pachedi (canopy), which is offered to the goddess. It is totally sustainable, eco-friendly and hand painted with vegetable dyes.”
The collection comprised a wide range of hand painted saris, long kurtas with deep necklines, lehenga skirts, a good dose of stunning menswear pieces including printed jackets, floor-length gowns. Shravan’s muses were modern women looking graceful, elegant and urban yet rooted deeply in her traditional ethos.
“Since the wages are so low, the next generation hasn’t taken up Khadi Weaving. Everyone who is employed is 45+. It is becoming a dying craft in our culture as the next generation doesn’t seem to consider it a serious career option. Hence, we are trying to popularise the Khadi culture once again.”
