My favorite fabric has always been cotton, deeply rooted in my upbringing amidst the cotton fields of Central India. From childhood, I've seen cotton's white clouds on every plant, and learned from my Aaji and Aai how they crafted wicks from its fluff for lamps in Deoghar.
Two years ago, during my Fall 2022 Sustainable Fashion class at MassArt taught by Professor Jennifer Varekamp, I was astonished to learn about colored cotton. Indigenous cotton naturally grows in colors like red, green, and various shades of brown, eliminating the need for dyeing. Dyeing processes release vast amounts of toxic chemicals harmful to water, soil, and living beings.
My research led me to discover Kandu's work reviving India's Brown cotton. Kandu cotton is rain-fed and pesticide-free, making it skin-friendly and placing minimal stress on natural resources. From farmer to handloom weaver, all involved in its production receive fair wages.
For my debut collection, I have designed the Brown Cotton Top using this sustainable fabric, which is exceptionally rare and precious from seed to finished product.
