Making khadi Parisian chic

Kamal Haasan

Since its launch in November, Kamal Haasan's fashion line, KH House of Khaddar, has gained attention for its honest intent. The idea behind the label is to modernise the indigenous textile and present it in a chic avatar to suit the youth's sensibilities. In doing so, the brand aims to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India. Haasan also intends to take khadi - a fabric synonymous with India - to the international audience, thus familiarising them with the country's history. As a first step, KH House of Khaddar will be showcased at the Paris Fashion Week, which kicks off today.

Amritha Ram

Co-founder, designer and stylist Amritha Ram has used innovative designs and colour palettes for the collection. "At Paris Fashion Week (PFW), we are presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible," says the brand's creative head. She notes that the superstar is closely involved with the collection, constantly ideating on how to give khadi a contemporary makeover. "He comes up with ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? The global audience will love it because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth," adds Ram.