ZERO CARBON
FOOTPRINT FABRIC
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Khadi refers to the entirely handmade. It is a fabric made from cotton that is hand-spun using a wooden spinning wheel and then hand woven. As it requires no electricity, the weaving of Khadi is the oldest form weaving fabric, and has been practiced on the Indian subcontinent for the last 5,000 years. Khadi is the ultimate symbol of artisanal craftsmanship as opposed to industrially manufactured goods.

As Khadi is manufactured using solely human energy, it has renewed relevance in today's world of fast fashion as a zero carbon footprint fabric, it is woven from natural, organic fibres making it 100% biodegradable. Varana's Khadi collection represents a commitment to respecting artisans, the world’s cultural heritage and above all, to the environment. A museum quality capsule collection has been created by Varana to showcase this commitment.

THE FABRIC OF FREEDOM
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Although the weaving of handspun and hand woven fabric has existed for centuries, khadi was brought to the attention of the world as a symbol of resistance advocated by Mahatma Gandhi during India's freedom struggle. During the colonial period, the British Empire took cotton grown in India to England, processed it in British mills, and then sold it back as cloth to Indians at extremely high prices. In protest, Gandhi urged all Indians to spin and weave their own yarn in order to be self-reliant. Furthermore, by encouraging people of high castes to weave their own fabric, Gandhi attempted to break down caste barriers in Indian society.

The Beauty of
Khadi
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Today, Khadi is still spun in ashrams and monasteries, as well as in small-scale cooperatives and in people's homes. The Khadi industry empowers women to earn an income by spinning and weaving at home. As the physical structure of the cloth varies from spinner to spinner and weaver to weaver, each piece is unique, with no two meters being identical.

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