Indian designer to revive 'Swadeshi spirit' in London

Indian designer Ruchiekka Krishnani will represent India at the India Pakistan London Fashion (IPLF) Season 2 in London, where she will showcase a collection centred on Khadi and the revival of India's traditional handspun textile heritage.

Krishnani, founder of Signature1Concepts and the India partner for the IPLF show, has curated the concept “Revival of Swadeshi Spirit” for the event scheduled for September 30.

The collection has been developed with the support of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and in association with IAMKHADI. The initiative aims to bring greater attention to India's weavers and artisans while promoting handspun and handmade textiles on an international fashion platform.

Krishnani said she wanted to take forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of promoting Khadi as both a symbol of national identity and a contemporary fashion choice.

“I want to take our Prime Minister's vision forward... a tribute to Bapu — ‘Khadi for Nation, Khadi for Fashion’ — the idea that Khadi can become a symbol of national pride and a fashion statement,” she said.

She described the presentation of a Khadi collection at the British Asia event as a meaningful tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, particularly as it coincided with his 150th birth anniversary.

The collection seeks to give traditional Indian textiles a contemporary international platform while drawing attention to the people behind them. By bringing Khadi into a global fashion setting, the initiative aims to highlight the craftsmanship of Indian artisans and the cultural significance of handspun fabrics.

The IPLF event is expected to provide an international audience with an opportunity to experience Indian textile traditions through contemporary fashion, combining the country's heritage with modern design.