Is khadi scratchy or hot in winter? Four worries answered
Common doubts we hear at the counter about hand-spun cloth, and what actually happens when you wear it.
How much khadi do you need for a kurta, and what it costs
Metres, tailoring and buttons: the real cost of a khadi kurta made from fabric by the metre.
Buying fabric by the metre and having it stitched is often the cheapest way to own good khadi, and it lets you choose the fit. Here is how to work out what you need. For a men’s knee-length kurta in our 112 cm wide fabric, sizes 38 to 42 need about 2.5 metres; sizes 44 and 46 need 2.75 metres. A long kurta that falls below the knee needs another 0.5 metre. A women’s straight kurta usually needs 2.25 metres, and a pair of pyjamas or straight pants another 2 to 2.5 metres.
Add 10 cm for every 2.5 metres to cover shrinkage. Hand-spun cotton shrinks 3 to 4% in the first wash, so always wash and dry the fabric before you take it to the tailor.
Now the costing for a men’s indigo kurta. Fabric: 2.6 m at ₹480 is ₹1,248. Stitching at a neighbourhood tailor in Navrangpura or Vastrapur runs from ₹450 to ₹700 for a kurta with a placket and side pockets. Shell or wooden buttons add ₹40 to ₹80. That brings a made-to-measure indigo kurta to between ₹1,750 and ₹2,050, close to our ready kurta at ₹1,950 but cut to your own measurements.
For undyed khadi the fabric costs ₹832 for the same length, and the finished kurta comes to around ₹1,350 to ₹1,600. If you are stitching for the family, ask us to cut every length from one bolt so the colour and texture match.
