There's a fabric that Gandhi spun to defy an empire. Today, the same fabric — Khadi — is being reimagined by a new generation of Indian designers, and it's showing up in some of the most compelling menswear of 2026. At Rarree, Khadi isn't a nostalgia play. It's a design choice — the most honest material we know.
What is Khadi?
Khadi is a hand-spun, hand-woven fabric, traditionally made from cotton, silk, or wool. Every step of Khadi production happens by hand: the raw fibre is spun into yarn on a charkha (spinning wheel), and that yarn is woven into cloth on a handloom. The result is a fabric with a natural, slightly irregular texture — no two pieces identical.
Why Khadi Makes Exceptional Clothing
- Thermoregulating: Keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter — a property of hand-spun yarn that commercial fabrics can't replicate.
- Breathable: The open weave of handloom fabric allows air circulation, ideal for India's climate.
- Gets better with wear: The fabric softens with every wash and develops character that mass-produced cloth never achieves.
- Sustainable: Zero electricity in production. Minimal carbon footprint.
Khadi in Contemporary Menswear: The Rarree Edit
The question designers are now asking: what happens when you take this extraordinary material and give it a modern silhouette? In Rarree's Dastak SS26 collection, the answer looks like this:
- Teer Overshirt — 100% hand-spun Khadi cotton with hand-embroidered geometric arrow motifs and a utility half-zip placket.
- Mudra Overshirt — marbled forest-green Khadi with ornate golden printed motifs. Majestic and grounded in equal measure.
- Sage & Sun Overshirt — golden sun-medallion prints on a rich sage-green Khadi base. Cultural celebration as a garment.
How to Style Khadi in 2026
- Keep the rest minimal: Pair a Khadi overshirt with clean straight-fit trousers and leather sandals. Let the fabric breathe.
- Contrast textures: Layer Khadi over a fine-knit tee or a silk shirt for a striking contrast between rough and refined.
- Wear it open: Khadi overshirts work brilliantly as a top layer over a plain white kurta or tee.
Caring for Khadi
- Hand wash or machine wash cold, gentle cycle
- Do not use bleach or harsh detergents
- Dry flat or on a hanger in shade
- Iron on medium heat while slightly damp
Khadi in 2026 is what it has always been — the most honest fabric India makes. It just looks different now. Explore the Dastak SS26 collection and find your piece of it.