India launched its first-ever khadi Fabric Footwear

Union Minister for MSME, Nitin Gadkari, launched the first-ever high quality Khadi Fabric Footwear of India on October 21, 2020. The footwear has been designed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Highlights

• The footwears are made up of Khadi fabric such as Silk, Cotton and Wool.
• Footwears would bear the paintings from across India, including the Madhubani painting. This unique initiative will help to promote the various art forms of India along with the khadi fabric.
• An online sale of khadi footwear through KVIC’s e-portal was also launched by the minister.
• The Khadi footwear price have been ranged from  ₹1100 to ₹3300 per pair.

Significance of Khadi footwears

• Khadi footwears are cost-effective and of international quality. Use of fine fabric such as Patola Silk, Cotton, Banarasi Silk, Denim will attract the youngsters.
• With the development and marketing of these products in foreign markets,  Khadi India would be able to capture a market of worth rs 5000 crore.
• To make these products unique and trendy, Khadi products including  Patola Silk of Gujarat, Madhubani-printed Silk of Bihar, Banarasi Silk, Khadi Denim, Cotton fabric, Tussar Silk, Matka – Katia Silk, Tweed Wool and Khadi Poly Vastra were used.
• The minister also have urged KVIC to develop alternatives for leather accessories such as  handbags, purses, wallet in handcrafted Khadi fabric. These items also has a huge potential in international markets.

Khadi Industry in India

As per a report, around  460000 people are employed in khadi industries as of 2017.The sale and Production of khadi products also rose by 33 % and 31.6% respectively in 2017. This was the result of launch of multi-spindle charkas. In the year 2019 also, the overall khadi sales in India rose by 28%. India have earned the revenues of ₹3,215 crore through khadi products. The KVIC have planned to enhance the revenue to ₹5000 crore by 2020.