Khadi Cotton Weaving Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram Gujarat

Khadi (handspun, handwoven cotton) is the fabric of the Indian independence movement, championed by Gandhi from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad as a symbol of economic self-reliance (swadeshi). Gujarat is the heartland of khadi production, with handspinners (primarily women) in Bardoli, Surat, Sabarkantha, and Bhavnagar districts spinning cotton on charkha (spinning wheel) and supplying yarn to handloom weavers. Khadi fabric has protected status and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) manages its branding, quality certification, and retail distribution through Khadi India outlets. Premium handloom khadi, produced with hand-ginned cotton and hand-spun thread, commands prices 5-10 times machine-made cotton. The Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad is a pilgrimage site for khadi supporters. Khadi fabric has been adopted by luxury fashion designers and exported globally.