Ecofriendly Handwoven SelvedgeDenim – 9.0 Oz – Space Blue – Natural Indigo (Fabric Dyed)

Generally, since denim conventionally is a warp-dyed fabric, we dye the warp yarns in desired colors and use weft in udyed state for making handloom / khadi selvedge denim fabric. As a result of this, the face of the fabric appears to be colored, and the back appears to be white or less colored than the front.

In the case of “fabric dyed” items, the fabric is woven using un-dyed yarn in both warp and weft, to make an off-white / creamish colored cloth. This fabric is then prepared for dyeing.

The dyeing of this fabric is done using colors extracted from various organic waste materials, like marigold petals, eucalyptus leaves, pomegranate rind, onion skins, madder roots, and also the dye extracted from indigo plant.

The dyeing is carried out manually, without using any machinery, and is therefore done in small lots only. In the resulting fabric, the front and back are not very different in color.

100% Cotton Hand-spun Hand-woven Denim

The term “khadi” refers to a cloth or fabric which has been hand-woven out of hand-spun yarn made on a “charkha”. Thus, “khadi denim” implies a three up one down (3 x 1) twill weave fabric which has been made using 100% cotton hand-spun yarn.

Authentic khadi denim has a very soft hand-feel, and is highly breathable and comfortable for the wearer. But, it is very difficult to find genuine khadi denim in the market.

The weaving of hand-spun yarns, in itself, is a difficult thing to do. It becomes still more complex when the weave is 3 x 1, and the fabric construction is dense. Therefore, it is usually very difficult to find authentic khadi denim in the market.

In the recent years, many suppliers, brands and even high-end fashion designers have started selling “khadi” and even “khadi denim” which is woven out of charkhas that have been modified, or in which the mill-made roving is used as the input material for making yarn.

So, whenever you come across some fabric being promoted as “khadi denim”, do take a closer look at the yarns. In authentic hand-spun yarns, you can very easily notice variation in thickness of yarn along the length, and the variation is quite random. If the thicker portions are repeating at intervals, in all probability it is not hand-spun yarn, and the fabric is not khadi.

Organic Cotton Khadi Denim

If the cotton used for spinning yarn has been grown organically – without using chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides – the resultant fabric is Organic Cotton Khadi Denim. It is still rarer to find, and is a high premium product.

The magic of indigo is not new. Indigo is among the oldest dyes to be used for textile dyeing and printing. A variety of plants have provided indigo throughout history, but most natural indigo was obtained from those in the genus Indigofera, which are native to the tropics, notably the Indian subcontinent.

The dye extracted from the indigo plant is first reduced to in an alkaline vat, the material is then dipped into the vat, several times, as per the depth of color required, and exposed to air in between every two consecutive dips. The color changes from yellow to green to blue on oxidation.

We extensively use natural indigo, to dye yarn as well as fabric, in a wide range of shades, from light to dark. The dyeing is done in a cold dye bath.

We also offer indigo with minimal dry crocking, in both yarn-dyed and fabric-dyed categories.