KVIC and Khadi Board have launched new youth-centric designs and varieties which resulted in healthy rise in footfall at khadi stores. The khadi-promoting organisations and nodal bodies has also hosted season sale this October, commemorating the birth of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

They foresee rise in khadi sales growth by 10-15 percent this season sale. Though it began as an experiment but the new youth centric designs and varieties have clicked among the young consumers. The footfall is gradually rising, given the season sale in October

In recent times KVIC and Khadi Board have also been working with institutes like NIFT and NID for innovation in fabric and apparel design to promote khadi. Industry sources stated that experiments are also on for introducing market friendly blends of fabric since a pure cotton-based khadi is not finding enough takers among the young generation.

It is learnt that Ahmedabad-based Arvind Ltd. is in talks with khadi weavers and their respective associations such as Khadi Board and KVIC for potential commercialisation of 'poly vastra', a blended fibre made of polyester and cotton used in weaving khadi.

According to sources in Khadi Board and KVIC, talks have been on since sometime on collaboration with Arvind for exploring commercial opportunities for 'poly vastra'. The fibre is made of 67 percent cotton and 33 percent polyester.

Already, the khadi-denim variant is becoming increasingly popular with even global brands expressing interest in the fabric.

Rajkot-based Saurashtra Rachnatmak Samiti (SRS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Arvind for supply of at least 5000 metres of khadi denim.