Why Imbued Choose To Work With This Indigenous Community

The COVID-19 pandemic has economically hurt communities all over the world but a network of indigenous artisans in Mexico aren’t only surviving, they’re thriving during these tough times. And it’s one of the many reasons why Imbued choose Khadi Oaxaca for fabric sourcing.

Khadi Oaxaca is a conscious textile project, a business, and a non-profit located in the Sierra Sur Mountains of Mexico. In this remote Zapotec village you will see Khadi Oaxaca’s effect throughout the town, from their quaint production building to a large school funded by Khadi, and even a peaceful Inn that Khadi sends guests to with a setting liken to an image from the secret garden.

Khadi Oaxaca’s story began in 1974 when 14-year-old Mark Brown arrived in the village. He stayed for several years before traveling to India to live in Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram. It was there that he learned about the Khadi Movement.

By definition Khadi means Indian homespun cotton cloth. And it was Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that village life would be preserved through the perpetuation of India's weaving tradition.

Gandhi also saw the Khadi Movement as the end of dependency on foreign materials and a solution to real independence. It’s this very reason why Khadi Oaxaca has economically endured through the pandemic. And why the word Khadi not only defines a piece of cloth but a way of life.

Founder Mark Brown envisioned the potential the Khadi movement could bring to Oaxaca, the important additional income, and the possibility of unlimited employment. Involved would be farmers, spinners, weavers, clothing makers, and local carpenters.

Mark brought the Indian spinning wheel (the symbol of dharma in motion) to San Sebastian and began teaching his family how to spin cotton. Because of Oaxaca’s old tradition of spinning and weaving sheep's wool, it was easy for people to learn the new style. A spinning style that produced thread much faster.

In 2010, Mark and his wife began launching what is now known as Khadi Oaxaca. It began with partners of the project Eliseo and his wife Felipa, facilitating a cotton spinning workshop with more than 30 women from the village.

In 2012 villagers learned to weave on the pedal loom and began to produce not only yarn, but also fabric and later learned to work with plant dyes. Today, there are more than 400 artisans in and around San Sebastián Río Hondo who work with Khadi Oaxaca.

Imbued was in search to find a textile company with a story such as Khadi's. A story where hands plant, cultivate, and harvest native cotton grown organically with edible plants, fibers are hand-spun into threads, threads are naturally dyed with sustainably foraged plants and handwoven on looms.

The entire process is ethical and ecological from seed to sew. And with the pandemic causing jobs to dry up, this textile project has become a lifeline for the local economy. Finding Khadi as a sourcing partner has been a gift and it's what makes Imbued's new collection extra special.

The new collection will be launching soon, and as with any small brand we could use your help! The #slowfashion movement involves many hands to make it move. Please spread the word and share this blog with a friend.