A fashion show- 'Gandhi chic' – was organized at Kolkata to attract todays youth towards the handwoven fabric 'khadi' promoted by the father of the Nation. The show was held on 2nd October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The show displayed a range of homespun sarees of east India along with other apparels. The "homespun" fabrics were championed by Mahatma Gandhi in the 1930s during his struggle against British rule as a way of boosting the rural economy and showing pride in products produced in India.
"The show reflects a new trend. Indian youths are taking it as new fashion," said Tajas Gandhi, a well-known local designer who is not related to the Mahatma. On the other hand, Mamabendra Mukherjee, West Bengal small cottage industries minister said, "The government is promoting 'Gandhi chic' to rejuvenate the hand-woven cotton and silk industry in the state, where unemployment is growing."
Thousands of people could be seen at the venue who came to watch the show. The unique fashion show featured well-known film stars and actors from film industry. Locket Chatterjee, one of West Bengal's best-known film actresses also did catwalk wearing red-bordered white cotton sari.
Demand for hand-woven fabrics has suffered over the last few decades after synthetics became popular in the market. However, Bengali designers say new styles and bright shades are increasingly attracting young people. This can also be seen in internationally famed fashion designers' works such as those of Sabyasachi Mukherjee who has started the mission of popularizing traditional Indian hand made sarees and other clothing. He also introduced chhotu saree, (which is worn till ankles) keeping in view the comfort for today's woman.
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