Handloom Weaving
A Sustainable Alternative To Regular Denim, Denim Khadi
Denim is one of the most commonly used fabrics all over the world & has been on the rise, creating a social and environmental impact. There are major concerns regarding the way denim is produced and its impact on the environment in terms of energy consumption, water, air & and soil pollution. It might be necessary to look for a better alternative, which is why more and more people are interested in Denim Khadi. In this blog we get into the details:
Denim and its Rise in Popularity
Denim is a cotton fabric that originated in Nimes, France in the late 18th century. The fabric was first used to make denim jeans and other clothing items but has been used for other purposes since then as well.
It is the most popular fabric in the world. It is durable and versatile. It's easy to wash and dry, and it doesn't wrinkle easily. Denim jeans are comfortable and look great on almost everyone. They can be dressed up or down in an instant. And they're affordable, too.
The denim trousers had become popular for workwear since it was comfortable and strong enough to be worn on farms or while doing manual labour. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that it became popular worldwide. The reason for its popularity was that it is made from cotton. Cotton is one of the most versatile fabrics available today; it grows quickly and requires little maintenance or labour to produce large amounts of fibre for clothing manufacturing companies worldwide.
The first pair of jeans were made and patentend in 1873 by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss & Co. Since then, denim has been adopted by subcultures such as punk rockers and hip-hop artists as well as becoming popular with mainstream fashion designers who are making a variety of apparel out of the fabric like denim jackets, denim skirts, denim dresses etc.
Environmental Impact of Denim
Today, the denim industry is one of the largest in the world.
"It accounts for 2% of the global trade and has a revenue of over $110 billion".
But it has a big environmental and ecological footprint.
- It is made from cotton — which accounts for more than 20 per cent of global pesticide use.
- It takes about 1,700 gallons of water to produce enough cotton to make a pair of jeans. In fact, producing a single pair of jeans overall requires over 2,000 gallons of water and 1,500 kilowatts of electricity.
- Denim not only uses a lot of energy in the form of electricity during the manufacturing process, but it also consumes huge amounts of water, chemicals, and diesel oil.
- When you throw away your old jeans, some of these chemicals end up in landfills or wash off into rivers and streams when they're washed at home. This can have negative effects on wildlife and people who eat fish from those waters.
Khadi Denim, A Sustainable Alternative
Khadi denim is a sustainable alternative to regular denim. Khadi denim is made by the handspun process of khadi in which natural fibres are handspun to form yarns which are then handwoven on the handloom to create the Khadi fabric. Being a completely manual process, there is no consumption of electricity or fuel. Besides this, GOTS certified Organic Cotton fibres are used to create the denim khadi.
Khadi Denim offers an option for those who wish to purchase ethical clothing without breaking the bank; all products are affordable while still upholding their high-quality standards.
Characteristics of Khadi Denim
The great thing about these khadi jeans is that they have all of the same characteristics as regular denim. It's comfortable, breathable and easy to wash. Denim twill khadi also has the added benefit of being durable—the jeans will last for years to come.
The denim twill also requires a different fit. The regular denim has stretch, whereas the twill khadi does not and therefore has a more tailored look to it.
What makes Denim Khadi more sustainable?
The answer is in the way it's made. It's an eco-friendly fabric that is produced using traditional methods of handweaving with handspun yarns.
It’s handmade by skilled handloom weavers who use traditional techniques in their work. This means that no factory work is involved in the making of this fabric, which helps reduce pollution and consumption of electricity while preserving traditional skill sets and techniques that are important for India’s cultural identity.
The Handloom manufacturing process is also environmentally friendly because it doesn’t involve any chemicals or harmful substances like bleach and other synthetic dyes do.
When dyeing with natural dye indigo, the process takes several weeks to complete and uses very little water compared to other types of dyes. The plant-based dyes also make the fabric easier to wash - you don't have to worry about colour fading or bleeding onto other clothing items in the wash or any chemicals leeching into the soil when the fabric is eventually discarded.
New age consumers are moving towards conscious fashion because they're tired of seeing their clothing pollute our oceans or contribute to deforestation in developing countries like Bangladesh or India.
Thus, Denim khadi is a sustainable alternative to regular denim that appeals to people who care about the environment and the ethical treatment of animals. The next time you think of shopping for denim jeans, look for alternatives and make an informed choice.
Team Anuprerna
At Anuprerna, We Requests Everyone To Contribute And Share. This Way We Can Create Global Recognition For These Beautiful Handwoven Craft & Textiles To Bestow Value Onto The Ordinary Lives Of Our Artisans With Extraordinary Skills. And We Believe That's The Only Way We Can Build A Sustainable And Ethical World For Us.
