The definition of the word khadi in Sanskrit means cotton fabric, which is generally hand spun and hand woven. India is known to be one of the pioneers of khadi, along with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Having a history of about 5000 years, khadi is one of the earliest hand woven fibers, which has huge popularity in today’s modern era. During the ancient times, the fabric was much appreciated for its feature to fight the climate, as it keeps cool is summer and warm in winter that also named as all-weather cloth. Traditionally, khadi is spun on a wooden spinning wheel called charkha. The hand weaving method interlaces the thread in such a way, that the fiber absorbs a maximum amount of air and comforts the body like no other fabric.
The fine texture and finish of khadi is much superior when compared to artificially made fiber. Synthetically made fabric tend to cause irritation and allergies in many cases, whereas khadi is very friendly to the body and do not cause any problem. The modern generation tends to adopt natural and eco-friendly products thus khadi is one among the best option when it comes to fabric. Production of khadi can be found in every state of India having its own unique feature like a style of weaving and the proportion in which the fiber is mixed. A modern designer has blended khadi fiber with silk and wool to create more versatile fabric.
Majorly Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are the highest contributors to cotton production of India. Belgaum district of Karnataka is well known for varieties of cotton production. Majority of women artisans in Belgaum plays the main role in cotton production. Some of the well know cotton varieties of Belgaum are Abadhita, Banny, Suviha, Varalazmi, Suyodhar, Jayadhar and Renuka. The quality of fiber depends on the length, uniformity, micronaire, and strength. Cotton is the only fabric in which no two fibers are identical. Khadi industries in Belgaum provides job opportunities to many of traditional weaver and helps in creating new designs.
