In a bid to promote khadi culture, Air India has agreed to go for a makeover of its Air India One cabin crew members who will wear khadi silk clothes supplied by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Women cabin crew will wear khadi silk saree, their men counterpart will wear jodhpuri suit, also known as bandhgala suit, and trousers.

Air India One is a VVIP charter by Air India that carries the Prime Minister, the President or the Vice President on their international tours.

In his first overseas trip this year, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will board the special Air India One flight, he will be greeted by its crew members wearing khadi fabric. Later this month, Mr. Modi is expected to go on a foreign trip that will begin on March 30.

KVIC officials said that Air India One crew will wear khadi silk garments on a pilot basis and Air India is considering using khadi products for its executive class seats in all flights.

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani said that they have decided to experiment with khadi garments. It is not yet decided whether this will be used in totality or not.

The move came after KVIC requested all the public sector units (PSUs) to make use of khadi products. Air India readily agreed to use khadi garments for its VVIP flights on a pilot basis. They have also requested them to use the same products for its executive class crew members, said a KVIC official, on conditions of anonymity.

While cotton khadi may be costlier than its peer group, silk khadi that Air India crew will wear is not costly and competitive with market rates, the KVIC official added.

Last month, Air India had also decided to give KVIC amenity kits to its first class and business class international passengers. The kit will include khadi moisturiser, khadi rose face wash, khadi handmade soap among other things.

In the last six decades, the production and sales of khadi was increasing at 6 percent on an average. In last one year, while production has increased by 20 percent, sales have gone up by 30 percent. This is a great achievement as despite global recession, khadi’s demand is increasing, said KVIC chief executive officer Arun Kumar Jha.

In the last one year, KVIC, under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is trying to remove the perception that khadi products are only meant for old people or politicians.

Prime Minister in his first Mann ki Baat this year in January had said that due to the efforts of many government organisations in the field of khadi, around 18 lakh people can be granted employment. People should have at least one piece of garment made of khadi in their wardrobe. He had also urged people to use khadi in a bid to revive Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and generate jobs.