Kala Cotton: A Gift from the Desert

On the third day of my trip to the arid region of Bhuj, Gujarat I visited the quaint village of Bhujodi renowned for its weaving of the material called Kala Cotton. It was a sultry yet beautiful evening when I entered the home of one of the family of weavers. The looms and a small space to store the ready fabrics were set up in their courtyard. I went about observing and admiring the work being done, and learnt about this marvellous fabric that is such a fantastic example of sustainable fashion.

Kala cotton is an indigenous variety of cotton that is grown in the Kutch region. It is an organic crop as the farmers grow them without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. The fibre is then handspun to make the yarn which is subsequently then handwoven on a pit loom. The experience of watching the loom first-hand left me in awe of the skill and effort that is put in by the weavers to bring the product to life.

Additionally I witnessed the extra weft technique, wherein a supplementary thread is inserted during the weaving process, to create patterns and motifs which adds to the beauty of the Kala Cotton fabrics. On any given day, only a few metres of the fabric can be woven due to the intense work that is required. Once the fabric is ready, hand-embellishments are added by the women of the family to add to the elegance of this handcrafted marvel.

This fabric is a gift to the world of fashion – strong, durable, comfortable and entirely sustainable, it is truly one-of-a-kind. The use of organic methods, natural dyes makes it an ideal choice for our skin, for the environment as well as the perfect material for the hot weather nowadays.

As summer is upon us, I’d urge you to give Kala Cotton a try and I can guarantee, you wouldn’t have experienced anything like this before!

Kharaa

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