Patagonia buys 30,000 metres of Khadi from KVIC-certified mill

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Dec 13, 2021

American clothing brand Patagonia Inc has ordered 30,000 metres of Khadi denim fabric from a Khadi and Village Industries-certified mill in India to use in its ethical clothing line.

Patagonia’s large-scale order of Khadi denim is set to take the handloom textile to new, international markets. The order also represents the first time an international, independent assessor has certified an Indian Khadi institution for meeting ethical operating standards, the Economic Times reported. 
 
The California-based business sourced the handloom textiles, worth around Rs 1.08 crore ($162,000) from the state of Gujarat through the tie up between KVIC and Arvind Mills. The order was carried out over a period of a year and completed in October, 2021. 

Patagonia first visited Khadi institution Udyog Bharti in Gondal, Rajkot to learn how Khadi denim is made. The business then asked U.S.-based ethical standards assessor Nest to confirm that the Khadi was produced ethically and in a home or small workshop. After the Khadi manufacturing facilities passed the assessment, Patagonia placed the order.  
 
KVIC signed an agreement with Arvind Mills back in July 2017 with the aim of manufacturing Khadi which would retail internationally to boost international trade and Khadi exports. Following the agreement, Arvind Mills purchased KVIC-certified Khadi from manufacturing institutions in Gujarat, KVIC officials told the Economic Times.