Ahmedabad to witness a two day international event on ‘Sustainable textiles’

Ahmedabad: With an effort to position Khadi as a sustainable fabric globally, Ahmedabad based social entrepreneur and founder of Sahonnati foundation and MoralFibre Fabrics, Ms. Shailini Amin, along with a group of social, environmental activists and ethical business owners from the UK and India, is organizing an event ‘A Way Ahead – Ethical Khadi’ on Jan 18th and 19th, 2019. Abbreviated as AWA: EK 2, the event, will throw light on bringing ethics back to clothing and ethical fashion. There is a need for urgent overhaul in textile industry, which is known to be the second biggest polluter of the environment and the one robbing workers of human rights. Today working towards adopting sustainable lifestyle and understanding circularity is an imminent requirement and no longer a choice we made.

 

This event, which is in its second edition, is being organized for the first time India at Nehru Foundation, Ahmedabad. The first edition of the event was in London 2017. Among other things, the event also cover various topics including bringing together brighter minds  to give idea-focused talks and share experiences on a range of subjects under sustainability in textiles, to foster inspiration, learning and encourage conversations that matter. This is primarily for people actively involved with sustainable textile movement in India and world over.

 

Prominent speakers from the textile fraternity of India and aboard will be highlighting the impact and important elements of Khadi. Producers, designers, students of textiles, those passionate about addressing sustainability in all aspects of textiles / clothing and participants interested in learning from work and ecological life-lessons of Mahatma Gandhi would be witnessing wonderfully designed fabrics made of Khadi by handloom and meet the  artisans maintaining their local economy, ecology heritage and culture.

 

Program Highlights:

 

Day 1: 18th Jan, 2019 Friday WORKSHOPS

 

Introduction and Workshops on hand spinning, weaving, natural dyes & printing creation of fabric and clothing.

 

Details of few workshops are:

Title of Workshop Workshop By Description
NO STITCHES! Anuj Sharma, Button Masala Learn the Button Masala technique and make your own garment with no stitches- zero waste and sustainable clothing!
DYE, NATURALLY!

 

Namrata Manot, Biome A hands-on natural dyeing experience: explore how one can transition from chemical to natural dyes in textiles, painting or printing and make your own dyed garment!

 

FELT GOOD! Jigisha Patel, Unnu A natural wool felt-making workshop with Jigisha: explore how to combine traditional practices with new methods to create your own felted product.
CLAIM AND TIE SURPRISE! Kamaldeep Kaur, Neelgar Learn multiple methods and techniques from the expert to clamp and tie-dye fabrics and unravel surprises to see your designs come to life! Natural dyes will be used for dyeing and small cotton swatches will be provided.
GODDESS NARRATIVES! Chandrakanth Chitara,

independent craftsperson (Mata ni Pachedi)

Learn the history and painting technique of this 300 year old traditional sacred story telling craft which depicts narratives of Goddess Durga in her various incarnations. Popularly known as ‘Gujarat’s Kalamkari’, you will learn from the masters of this craft themselves and make your own painted pieces.
NEXT BLOCK PLEASE! Jayanti Chitara, independent craftsperson (Block printer) Explore wooden block printing- its process, technique and history with master craftsmen, and make your own printed textiles! Ahmedabad was once the trading hub of saudigiri printed textiles for Thai market (about 200 years ago).
UPCYCLE YOUR WARDROBE! Namrata Manot, Biome Learn the way towards a more sustainable living! Namrata will guide you through giving a new life to your old clothes, get you plain cotton tees/kurtas/stoles and give them a terrific twist using natural dyes and some tie-dye techniques.

 

Day 2: 19th Jan 2019 Saturday SEMINAR

 

Dr. Smt. Ela Bhatt will be inaugurating with her keynote address. Talks and dialogue sessions with audience participation on fabrics, clothing and sustainability. The evening rendition songs of hope based on field experiences by Loknaad. Poetry/songs of India’s most revered Weaver and Saint Kabir by Shabnam Virmani.

 

Ms. Uzramma (Founder of not-for-profit trusts, the Decentralized Cotton Yarn Trust (DCYT) & Malkha Marketing Trust (MMT)) who has been active in promoting the artisanal cotton textile industry of India since 1990, Dr. T Karunakaran (Founder, Agrindus – Agriculture based industries), Mr. Kapil Shah (Managing Director, Jatan Trust), Mr. Chandrakant Patel, Secretary, Udyog Bharti Gondal, Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar (Director, Gandhi Research Foundation and Former Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapeeth), Archana Shah (Founder, Bandhej), Uma Prajapati (Founder, Upasana),  Mr. Andy Rutherford (Founder, Fresh Eyes– People to People Travel), Mr. Nitin Pamnani (Co-Founder, iTokri – dealing with handicrafts, handmade textiles and design Products), Sonal Baid (Founder, Aura Herbal & Sustainable Earth Foundation) will be speaking at this event.

 

This initiative was started by, MORALFIBRE Fabrics (India), Khadi CIC (UK), Where Does It Come From? (UK), Fresh Eyes: People to People Travel (UK) and Action Village India -AVI (UK). It is being driven by their varied and extensive experiences in rural development and in promoting the production and use of ethical Khadi in the fashion industry.