“Khadi is not just a cloth. It is a movement. It is a philosophy. It is the thread that stitches India’s identity with sustainability, dignity, and self-reliance.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Today, nearly a century after Bapu gave Khadi its symbolic strength, the humble fabric has spun its way into history once again.
On March 21, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly announced that the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has recorded an all-time high turnover of ₹1.5 lakh crore, marking a historic moment for the Indian handloom and Khadi sector. It’s not just a number. It’s a revolution in the making.
📈 The Numbers Tell a Powerful Story
In FY 2024-25, Khadi and its allied village industries clocked a combined business of ₹1,55,673 crore – the highest ever since independence. This includes the sale of hand-spun Khadi, handcrafted textiles, and a variety of eco-friendly village products.
Let’s break this down:
- Khadi fabric sales alone have soared over ₹5,000 crore.
- The village industries segment — which includes honey, papad, soaps, herbal cosmetics, and pottery — contributed more than ₹1.45 lakh crore.
- The annual growth rate crossed 20%, outperforming many industrial sectors in India.
👩🧵 A Win for Women, Weavers & Rural Artisans
One of the most impactful outcomes of this growth story is the massive employment generation, particularly among rural women and traditional artisans.
- More than 1.5 crore people are now employed in the Khadi and village industries sector.
- Women constitute over 70% of the workforce in Khadi spinning and weaving units.
- The surge has revived forgotten skills, brought financial stability to thousands of rural families, and made artisan work a viable livelihood again.
This isn’t just economic growth — it’s social empowerment stitched in every thread.
🌿 Why This Surge Matters Now
This milestone isn’t just about commerce. It’s about conscious consumerism, eco-sustainability, and cultural pride. As fast fashion’s environmental cost is increasingly questioned, Khadi has become a torchbearer of slow, sustainable fashion.
Key factors behind the surge include:
- Government schemes supporting local production (PMEGP, SFURTI).
- Khadi’s modern makeover — designers blending it with contemporary styles.
- A growing global preference for natural, organic, and ethical fashion.
- PM Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign encouraging Indians to support homegrown products.
🛍️ What’s Next? Global Khadi?
With this historic momentum, KVIC is now:
- Exploring global export opportunities, especially in Europe and North America.
- Digitally empowering weavers through e-commerce platforms and traceability tools.
- Pushing for GI tags for regional handlooms to protect authenticity.
- Partnering with startups and private players to bring tech to the textile sector — including blockchain-backed product passports.
🧵 A Stitch in Time: What Can You Do?
- Buy handloom and Khadi products from certified stores or platforms like handlooom.com, khadiindia.gov.in, etc.
- Gift Indian — festivals, weddings, or corporate gifts made of Khadi carry more than just aesthetic appeal.
- Educate others — most urban consumers are unaware of the stories behind their clothes.
- Support policy that promotes traditional craftsmanship and sustainability.
🪔 Final Thought
In an age where synthetic dominates and speed sells, the Indian handloom industry — rooted in patience, precision, and purity — has silently outperformed expectations. The ₹1.5 lakh crore milestone is not just a triumph of numbers; it’s a resounding reminder that India’s strength lies in its soil, its people, and its timeless threads.
The revolution isn’t just in spinning wheels anymore. It’s in the hearts of conscious Indians who choose Khadi — not just as a fabric, but as a future.
Stay tuned with us as we continue to unravel the weaves and wonders of India’s textile heritage — one thread at a time.
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#KhadiRevolution #HandloomRising #VocalForLocal #SustainableIndia #WomenWeavers #MadeInIndia #SlowFashion #KhadiLove