Srinagar: As part of the Government of India’s initiative to commemorate the occasion throughout the nation, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Srinagar hosted a day-long “Khadi Mahotsavon Saturday.”
The event was planned against the background of the Prime Minister’s focus on the importance of khadi in reforming the country via young fashion. Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, and Vocal for Local were the three main focuses of the event.
The invited students from about a dozen colleges and schools engaged with the faculty members of the NIFT Srinagar during the event and learned about the significance of the Khadi fabric, which has historically been seen as a symbol of unity, the struggle for freedom, and an association with patriotism.
An official added that this fabric is diverse in terms of textures, weight, and fabric content and that it illustrates the concept of swadeshi, which is still popular across a broad strata in India.
The event also brought to light the difficulties facing the khadi industry, including the scarcity of real hand-spun yarn and customer uncertainty about real khadi goods.
The event included a fashion display put on by NIFT students to showcase Khadi and handlooms as adaptable and stylish fabrics to an audience outside of NIFT.
In order to emphasise ideas like “Know your weave” and “Khadi for Fashion,” the campus also sponsored a Khadi exhibition.
The event also included a hand spinning session that emphasised the use of cloth.
To provide the students with a hands-on learning opportunity, the NIFT administration showcased Charkhas, managed by skilled craftsmen.
Dr. Hina Shafi Bhat, vice chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), who was the principal guest at the event, said in her speech that Khadi is more than just a fabric; it also stands for a country, fashion, and change. She remarked that people are aware of its historical roots in the battle for our independence.
In addition to claiming that Khadi is the embodiment of our beliefs, Dr. Bhat said that people need to be aware of the suffering and difficulty that these craftsmen endure.
She complimented the administration of the NIFT Srinagar for organising the event and said that “our Prime Minister has given importance to Khadi because this fabric is made by poor artisans who are close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Earlier, Dr. Javid Ahmad Wani, Director of NIFT, said that the purpose of the event was to educate young people about the importance of speaking up for our community.
He issued an open invitation to all designers to visit the school and get in contact with the NIFT teachers and students, saying, “We want that new ideas, innovations, and technology should merge with the Khadi to make it contemporary.”
Saquib Yousuf, the Chief Area Manager (CAM) for Northern Railways, also addressed the event. He underlined that Khadi may become popular among young people by employing contemporary marketing techniques.
