Khadi Hand-Spun Cotton of Gujarat

Khadi is hand-spun and hand-woven cloth rooted in the Gandhian independence movement as an economic protest against British mill textiles. Gujarat is the largest khadi-producing state with over 300 cooperative societies registered under the Gujarat Gram Udyog Mandal. Surendranagar, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar are the main producing districts. The Ambar charkha, a 20-spindle portable wheel, enables spinners to produce fine-count yarn from indigenous Kala cotton. KVIC certification requires that genuine khadi be both hand-spun and hand-woven — machine-spun cloth cannot legally use the khadi mark. Natural dyeing with indigo, pomegranate rind, and turmeric is practiced in cooperative clusters. The khadi sector in Gujarat employs over 3 lakh rural women as spinners. Premium khadi commands Rs 800 to Rs 2000 per metre in urban retail and export markets focused on sustainable fashion buyers.