No other textile is as closely interwoven with the fabric of India as Khadi. It is the very fabric of the country’s freedom struggle, a handspun and handwoven cloth indigenous to the country’s "Swadeshi" philosophy. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is the registered proprietor of the textile

During the Indian national movement, Khadi was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi. He motivated Indians to make their own cloth using the traditional charkha or spinning wheel. This handspun cloth became a symbol of self-sufficiency. It also showed peaceful resistance against the British Raj.

Khadi is crafted using handspun, carded cotton, or silk fibres spun into yarn. It is handwoven by skilled artisans, lending the fabric a unique texture and uneven, organic finish. Over the years, Ambar Charkhas (semi-mechanised, with multiple spindles) were introduced to increase production.

Khadi is used across government sectors like railways and hospitals for uniforms. It has made a tremendous impact on the fashion industry, too. KVIC continues to collaborate with fashion designers and high-end brands. Designers, in fact, have interpreted Khadi in contemporary silhouettes, elevating it with embroidery, block printing and hand painting.

Khadi is a trademark by itself under The Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. Patnulu Khadi, handspun in the village of Ponduru in coastal Andhra Pradesh, has a unique textile. It's considered amongst the finest handwoven Khadi.

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