Celebrated fashion designer Ritu Beri recently unveiled her all-new Khadi collection.

Coarse, utilitarian, rough, fabric of freedom – words that the Khadi fabric had been associated for long. Till some designers came along and turned the descriptions over their head. All-weather fabric, natural, modern, comfortable and stylish is what Khadi looks like, increasingly. Today, the silhouettes that can be made with the fabric have been reinvented. The straight kurtas and pajamas have been replaced with imaginative asymmetrical and modern silhouettes.

The fabric, popularised prior to Independence by Mahatma Gandhi, was once a symbol of self-reliance of the Indian people as opposed to depending on British products. But now there are persistent efforts to revive the pride associated with it. One such effort was when fashion designer Ritu Beri became associated with Khadi India in 2016. In her latest collection, the Khadi couture show at a fashion week in Delhi she presented floral motifs, gold and bronze embroidery on white, purples, reds, yellows and more.

The show began with a young child dressed like the Mahatma walking down the ramp while the screens behind showed the original icon with the Charkha, which was popularly used to make the fabric.

The ramp soon saw a series in white followed by colourful kurtas and dhoti pants, which then progressed from pret to couture and had something for everyone as it covered a wide range. The collection focussed on women and children rather than men.

Beri said, “This collection shows Khadi can be couture as well. These clothes can be worn during festivals and weddings. It is an all-weather fabric, keeps us warm in winters and cool in summers.”

Young children also walked the ramp in her colourful creations of ruffled jackets, long jackets, lehengas and dresses. One model walking with two children showed a family dressed in Khadi – as an example of its everydayness.

Contemporary Western silhouettes could be seen along with the traditional Indian. There were long jackets with embroidered patches, images of sneakers in sequins and of Frida Kahlo with floor length kurtas that gave a modern twist to the traditional attire.

In a modern take on the lehenga-choli, the latter was bunched up in pleats below the bustier on one side while the rest of the midriff was bare. Three backless gowns in red and black took Khadi to another level of innovation.

Italian ambassador to India Lorenzo Angeloni, MLA Meenakshi Lekhi, politician Najma Heptullah also walked the ramp in clothes designed by Beri.

Writer: Asmita Sarkar

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Celebrated fashion designer Ritu Beri recently unveiled her all-new Khadi collection.

Coarse, utilitarian, rough, fabric of freedom – words that the Khadi fabric had been associated for long. Till some designers came along and turned the descriptions over their head. All-weather fabric, natural, modern, comfortable and stylish is what Khadi looks like, increasingly. Today, the silhouettes that can be made with the fabric have been reinvented. The straight kurtas and pajamas have been replaced with imaginative asymmetrical and modern silhouettes.

The fabric, popularised prior to Independence by Mahatma Gandhi, was once a symbol of self-reliance of the Indian people as opposed to depending on British products. But now there are persistent efforts to revive the pride associated with it. One such effort was when fashion designer Ritu Beri became associated with Khadi India in 2016. In her latest collection, the Khadi couture show at a fashion week in Delhi she presented floral motifs, gold and bronze embroidery on white, purples, reds, yellows and more.

The show began with a young child dressed like the Mahatma walking down the ramp while the screens behind showed the original icon with the Charkha, which was popularly used to make the fabric.

The ramp soon saw a series in white followed by colourful kurtas and dhoti pants, which then progressed from pret to couture and had something for everyone as it covered a wide range. The collection focussed on women and children rather than men.

Beri said, “This collection shows Khadi can be couture as well. These clothes can be worn during festivals and weddings. It is an all-weather fabric, keeps us warm in winters and cool in summers.”

Young children also walked the ramp in her colourful creations of ruffled jackets, long jackets, lehengas and dresses. One model walking with two children showed a family dressed in Khadi – as an example of its everydayness.

Contemporary Western silhouettes could be seen along with the traditional Indian. There were long jackets with embroidered patches, images of sneakers in sequins and of Frida Kahlo with floor length kurtas that gave a modern twist to the traditional attire.

In a modern take on the lehenga-choli, the latter was bunched up in pleats below the bustier on one side while the rest of the midriff was bare. Three backless gowns in red and black took Khadi to another level of innovation.

Italian ambassador to India Lorenzo Angeloni, MLA Meenakshi Lekhi, politician Najma Heptullah also walked the ramp in clothes designed by Beri.

Writer: Asmita Sarkar

Courtesy: The Pioneer