Needed: A Makeover for the Humble Khadi

Mahatma Gandhi advocated non-violence and all things swadeshi,including the humble khadi. So it’s disheartening to see the sorry state of the city’s Khadi Bhandar (in Fort),today,on his 142nd birth anniversary. With the opening up of the economy,the country’s commercial capital has been bombarded with many global luxury brands and while this has certainly translated into a lot more options for the fashion lover,this phenomenon has also reduced the Khadi Bhandar to an eyesore.

At a time when the posh Hermès store (that overlooks the Asiatic Society Library on one side and the Horniman Circle gardens just ahead,on the other) has just opened for business and The Courtyard at Colaba still rides the popularity wave amongst the fashion conscious clientèle,the management at Khadi Bhandar needs to gets its act together. Given its busy location and the regular stream of expats in the area,the Khadi Bhandar can be much more than a dilapidated showroom. A timely makeover would greatly help in bringing back the lure of the khadi.