RAJESH PRATAP SINGH’S TRYST WITH KHADI
It’s been almost a decade now that ace designer Rajesh Pratap Singh took to Khadi with a passion rarely seen before. When asked what’s it about the truly Indian fabric Khadi that kindles his passion, Pratap says, “The spinning wheel represents to me the hope of the masses. The masses lost their freedom, such as it was, with the loss of the Charkha. The Charkha supplemented the agriculture of the villagers and gave it dignity.”
A recipient of the National Award in 2019 by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to Indian Fashion and the award for Sustainable Fashion in 2018 by GQ, Rajesh’s works also finds a place in the textile archives of the V&A Museum in London.
Rajesh Pratap Singh’s signature look is essentially minimalistic with an emphasis on artisanal craft for detailing. His silhouettes are essentially modern and international. He tied up with Arvind mills to give birth to ‘Khadi Denim’ and set-up a state of the art unit at Neemrana, Rajasthan where Khadi was spun, woven, and dyed in traditional Indigo dye.
His passion for Khadi also emerges from the fact that handloom & handicraft is the second-largest employment generator of our country. This industry contributes nearly 30% of the total exports from India. Under the umbrella of the handloom & handicraft industry (MSME), both organized as well as decentralized sectors, urban and rural India coexist. In Pratap’s own words, “Khadi is a fabric and an emotion that resonates with the legacy of the great Mahatma and the independence struggle, It personifies self-reliance by generating employment to millions. It endures India’s ancient textiles yet embraces the contemporary world to find its relevance.”
At the beginning of this year, Satya Paul appointed Rajesh Pratap Singh as the Creative Director of the brand. Satya Paul’s spokesperson said, “With Rajesh Pratap heading our design team we are reviving our iconic prints on fine-count hand-woven Khadi procured from Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC). This collection will not only make saris of exceptional drape and print but will support Khadi handloom weavers all around the country. It is a reply to the call of Self Reliance (Atma Nirbhar) by the honorable Prime Minister. At Satya Paul, we have decided to maximize the use of Indian textiles and related crafts henceforth.”
Text by Jaydeep Ghosh
Image Courtesy: Rajesh Pratap Singh and Satya Paul
Know more about the Artist and Gallery:
https://www.rajeshpratapsingh.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rajeshpratapsinghworks/?hl=en
