Sixty-one years back our freedom fighters didn't know they were making a fashion statement when they donned the simple homespun yarn-khadi. Synonymous with the politicos and the intelligentsia, khadi has now found favour with corporates as well. The traditional white kurtas have given way to varied colourful forms of clothing that are comfortable and stylish. Read on and you'll be a khadi-convert soon:

* "Nothing beats the elegance of a white starched khadi kurta.  The sheer texture and fall of the fabric makes it extremely stylish," says fashion designer Shaina NC. Team it with a churidar or jeans and stand out amongst the crowd.

* Short khadi kurtis look great with jeans, chinos or khakis.  You get them in bold colours, stripes as well as with prints. Long khadi kurtas are more suited for formal events. "I prefer colours like beige, cream, olive and other natural tones in handloom fabrics," says Dino. But, that shouldn't stop you from experimenting with the blues, greens, purples and reds, which are abundant in khadi.

* "For a trendy look, try wearing a khadi silk waistcoat over a silk shirt and a pair of well-fitting jeans.  Accessorise it with a nice printed scarf or cravat. Woolen khadi jackets can be sported in winters over shirts or tees," says fashion designer Nitin Bal Chauhan.

* "Women can choose from khadi kurtas that are printed, embroidered or have appliqué work done on them. They can be worn over salwars, churidars or denims depending on their preference," says Aneeta.

* "Khadi sarees are a huge hit abroad. Women can make a big fashion statement by wearing a khadi cotton or silk saree. Accessorise with junk or ethnic jewellery. Top this with a big tikka and lots of kajal to get the perfect Indian look," says Nitin. 

* A plain white khadi silk saree with a gold border is a show stealer. Accessorise with gold jewellery and brocade blouses to make heads turn at a party. Even a white khadi salwar kameez with golden embroidery or piping can make you look glamourous.

* "Silk khadi dresses are in vogue. Those made from Bhagalpuri or Assam silk are very soft and come in dazzling colours.  You get them in western cuts and designs at various designer stores," says Nitin.  Accessorise with gem-studded brooches or handmade bags to get the party look. 

* In western apparel, one can find cotton khadi tops, sarongs, spaghettis, tunics, etc. "They are great for the summers and pretty affordable too," says Aneeta. You can get trendy by sporting a printed khadi skirt with a body-hugging tee or a khadi tunic with leggings or denims. 

* "Khadi woolens are the ultimate in comfort and luxury. Sport a stole, shawl or muffler made from Pashmina, Angora or yak wool and you'll make heads turn. Khadi woolens come in bright colours and varied designs," says Nitin. 

* You can find different varieties in Khadi at Khadi Bhandars, Fabindia outlets across the country.

3 reasons why you should wear khadi
* "As khadi is a natural fabric, it allows the skin to breathe in every season unlike synthetic fabrics," says Aneeta Shah, store manager, Fabindia. This prevents perspiration and body odour. Actor Dino Morea too endorses this. "A soft cotton khadi kurta can be really comfortable in the summers," he says.
* Khadi is a great option for those who get skin infections in summers or monsoons as it's made from natural substances. It's cheaper than linen and is found in different blends of cotton, silk and wool. 
* People who wear khadi invariably convey an impression of being intelligent, artistic, socially conscious or patriotic. Try donning a khadi kurta to an event and you will understand what we are talking about

Dino's Take
Style statement: I am most comfortable in a tee and pair of shorts. I believe in dressing as per the occasion. I do take care in getting dressed as people always notice a well dressed person
power dressing... is dressing for success. A neatly cut black suit does the trick for me
Fashion Faux Pas: I feel that men who wear tight clothes look really tacky. Guys today even wear tight vests while working out in the gym, which looks silly.  Tight clothes were in vogue in the 70s but they look totally outdated now. If a person has a good physique it automatically shows, there's no need for skin tight clothes

Khadi kingdom

Bags for Grabs 
Khadi bag from Uni Style
Price Rs 1,295
Available at leading departmental stores

Khadi Khazana
Trendy khadi wear at Fabindia
Prices start at Rs 340
Available at Fabindia outlets

Urban Chic
Designer Indian and western Khadi wear    at Sattva, Linking Road, Khar
Prices start at Rs 1,500

Pinky Pink
Khadi dresses at Loot stores across the country
Prices start at Rs 250

Taking Care
* Always starch your khadi clothes if you want them to retain their shape for a long time
* Khadi clothes should be handwashed as they may lose their shape in the washing machine
* Never dry khadi clothes in direct sunlight as it may spoil the colour
* Clean your white khadi kurtas separately
* Khadi clothes need to be ironed well or else they will lose their shape
* Though khadi isn't affected by washing, khadi silk shrinks by 3-4 per cent after washing

urimimala.banerjee@mid-day.com