source: Republic World

South-superstar Kamal Haasan recently launched his fashion line 'KH House of Khaddar'. The brand made its debut in the Paris Fashion Week.

South-superstar Kamal Haasan recently launched his fashion line 'KH House of Khaddar'. The brand's aim is to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India.

'KH House of Khaddar' made its debut in Paris Fashion Week. The model, dolled up in House of Khaddar, wore a beige crop top with a brown mini skirt, made of Khadi fabric.

The brand aims at putting a made in India brand on the global fashion map. The three-piece all-pink ensemble looks super-chic on the model with chunky glasses complementing the whole attire.

For women, there are chic wrap jackets, crop jackets mini skirts and more in pastel shades of mustard, olive and pink. A baby pink mini skirt, paired with neon top and pink jacket looks flattering.

This cute-orange coloured flared thigh-length dress made heads turn at the Paris Fashion Week. The dress was teamed up with a huge white coloured headgear.

source: Wionews

Kamal Haasan’s recently launched fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ has been in the news ever since its launch. Apart from its aim to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India, the brand prides itself in modernising Khadi to suit the youth’s sensibilities by presenting it in a chic new avatar. 

source: Idiva

Kamal Haasan’s fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ showcased its collection at this year’s Paris Fashion Week. The recently launched fashion line aims to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India and prides itself in modernising Khadi to suit today’s sensibilities.

Commenting on the collection, designer and creative head of the brand, Amritha Ram says, “With Paris Fashion Week (PFW), KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim… For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That's why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone's going to love it,” she concludes.

source: Indulge

https://www.instagram.com/p/CarxESOvOR_/?utm_medium=copy_link

Source: Sachi Baat 

Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan’s recently launched fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ has been in the news ever since its launch. Apart from its aim to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India, the brand prides itself in modernising Khadi to suit the youth’s sensibilities by presenting it in a chic new avatar.

Capitalising on the favourable response from costumers and critics, KH House of Khaddar will now be showcased at the upcoming Paris Fashion that takes off on the 28th of February. The move aims at putting a made in India brand on the global fashion map.

To create a brand that appealed to the youth using Khadi needed designs and colour palettes keeping today’s fashion and styles in mind and it wouldn’t have been possible without the brands co-founder, designer and stylist Amritha Ram. The designer’s vision to give khadi a complete makeover that resonates with today’s fashion forward men and women has contributed immensely to the brand’s popularity.

Commenting on the collection which will be showcased in Paris Fashion Week, designer and creative head of the brand Amritha Ram says “With Paris Fashion Week (PFW), KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor and teacher like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible. He comes up with these ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. It then expands from an idea to a strong base that we construct on. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That’s why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone’s going to love it.”she concludes.

Source: Times of India

South Indian mega star, Kamal Haasan recently launched his fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’, as a tribute to India’s natural fibre cloth. The idea behind the launch was the fact that Khaddar or Khadi not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons and the actor feels that it has the potential to still resonate with people. And now, the brand is all set to showcase its latest collection at the Paris Fashion Week 2022.

Apart from its aim to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India, the brand prides itself in modernising Khadi to suit the youth’s sensibilities by presenting it in a chic new avatar. Capitalising on the favourable response from customers and critics, KH House of Khaddar will now be showcased at the upcoming Paris Fashion that takes off on February 28, 2022. The move aims at putting a made in India brand on the global fashion map.

To create a brand that appealed to the youth using Khadi needed designs and colour palettes keeping today’s fashion and styles in mind and it wouldn’t have been possible without the brands co-founder, designer and stylist Amritha Ram. The designer’s vision to give khadi a complete makeover that resonates with today’s fashion forward men and women has contributed immensely to the brand’s popularity.

Commenting on the collection which will be showcased in Paris Fashion Week, designer and creative head of the brand Amritha Ram says "With Paris Fashion Week (PFW), KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor and teacher like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible. He comes up with these ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. It then expands from an idea to a strong base that we construct on. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That's why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone's going to love it,"she concludes.

Source: Planet Bollywood

Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan’s recently launched fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ has been in the news ever since its launch. Apart from its aim to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India, the brand prides itself in modernising Khadi to suit the youth’s sensibilities by presenting it in a chic new avatar.

Capitalising on the favourable response from costumers and critics, KH House of Khaddar will now be showcased at the upcoming Paris Fashion that takes off on the 28th of February. The move aims at putting a made in India brand on the global fashion map.

To create a brand that appealed to the youth using Khadi needed designs and colour palettes keeping today’s fashion and styles in mind and it wouldn’t have been possible without the brands co-founder, designer and stylist Amritha Ram. The designer’s vision to give khadi a complete makeover that resonates with today’s fashion forward men and women has contributed immensely to the brand’s popularity.

Commenting on the collection which will be showcased in Paris Fashion Week, designer and creative head of the brand Amritha Ram says “With Paris Fashion Week (PFW), KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor and teacher like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible. He comes up with these ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. It then expands from an idea to a strong base that we construct on. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That’s why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone’s going to love it.”she concludes.

Source: Hauterfly

Popular actor Kamal Haasan is all set to add another feather to his hat, with an official entry to Paris Fashion Week 2022. Yes, you read that right. Much like his captivating persona on screen, the veteran actor’s label KH House Of Khaddar brings India’s household name Khadi on the world map. Reviving the age-old technique that has lived its sweet time in every generation, his label gives a modern upgrade to Khadi as suggested by costume designer and co-founder of the brand, Amritha Ram. Altering Khadi to please the needs of the youth, House Of Khaddar weaves together a modern aesthetic with age-old fabrication. The line-up of garments also talks about a visibly attractive colour palette, with power-suitings being the USP.

Source: Media News4U

Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan’s recently launched fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ has been in the news ever since its launch. Apart from its aim to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India, the brand prides itself in modernizing Khadi to suit the youth’s sensibilities by presenting it in a chic new avatar.

Capitalizing on the favorable response from customers and critics, KH House of Khaddar will now be showcased at the upcoming Paris Fashion that takes off on the 28th of February. The move aims at putting a made-in-India brand on the global fashion map.

To create a brand that appealed to the youth using Khadi needed designs and color palettes keeping today’s fashion and styles in mind and it wouldn’t have been possible without the brands co-founder, designer, and stylist Amritha Ram. The designer’s vision to give khadi a complete makeover that resonates with today’s fashion-forward men and women has contributed immensely to the brand’s popularity.

Commenting on the collection which will be showcased in Paris Fashion Week, designer and creative head of the brand Amritha Ram says “With Paris Fashion Week (PFW), KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor and teacher like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible. He comes up with these ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. It then expands from an idea to a strong base that we construct on. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That’s why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone’s going to love it.” she concludes.

Source: Bollywood Hungama

Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan’s recently launched fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ has been in the news ever since its launch. Apart from its aim to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India, the brand prides itself in modernising Khadi to suit the youth’s sensibilities by presenting it in a chic new avatar.

Capitalising on the favourable response from costumers and critics, KH House of Khaddar will now be showcased at the upcoming Paris Fashion that takes off on the 28th of February. The move aims at putting a made-in-India brand on the global fashion map.

To create a brand that appealed to the youth using Khadi needed designs and colour palettes keeping today’s fashion and styles in mind and it wouldn’t have been possible without the brands co-founder, designer, and stylist Amritha Ram. The designer’s vision to give khadi a complete makeover that resonates with today’s fashion-forward men and women have contributed immensely to the brand’s popularity.

Commenting on the collection which will be showcased in Paris Fashion Week, designer and creative head of the brand Amritha Ram says, "With Paris Fashion Week (PFW), KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor and teacher like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible. He comes up with these ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. It then expands from an idea to a strong base that we construct on. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That's why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone's going to love it," she concludes.

Source: www.news18.com

Kamal Haasan is all set to garner the love of Parisians as he and his brand House of Khaddar get ready to showcase at the upcoming Paris Fashion Week 2022. Bringing his vision of putting khadi on the global map is renowned fashion designer Amritha Ram, who along with Kamal Haasan launched the brand in 2021. Currently, in Chicago, Amritha is ecstatic about presenting House of Khaddar at the upcoming Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022. In conversation with New18, the fashion designer talks about taking khadi to Paris, working with the living legend Kamal Haasan and why 2022 will be the year of khadi.

You hear the excitement in her voice, when she mentions that House of Khaddar will be showcasing at the upcoming Paris Fashion Week. After showcasing a pristine line of khadi outfits in Chicago last year, Amritha looks forward to presenting khadi to Parisians. “It’s a vision of Kamal Haasan sir and mine to put the fabric on the global map. It’s the year of khadi and we are going to present our collection at the Paris Fashion Week,” says Amritha adding, “We have gone with a different weave of the same khaddar and it’s the first time this kind of presentation of the fabric is being done internationally. So, yes fingers crossed! It is going to be first of its kind yet one of its kind with the Paris Fashion Week.”

Spearheading House of Khaddar under the tutelage of renowned actor-politician Kamal Haasan has been an overwhelming experience for Amritha Ram. Truly inspired by his work of art and the way he styled himself over the years in his respective films, she considers him an institution of the highest grade. “My experience with working with sir from then to now has been a great journey. I have always considered myself as an understudy of him. What he has learnt over the past so many years in terms of textile, cuts, fits, and hats is unreal. I was so amazed by his style that during the pandemic I created an Instagram page called kh_thestykemanifest where I break down the looks created by him in his movies. In the 70s, he set a trend with the leather jacket, newsboy cap and the aviators. So, when I asked him about the inspiration behind that look, he said he took visual references from serial killer Ted Bundy and put it together.” From wearing khadi during political campaigns to walking the streets of Chicago in a khadi trench coat, Amritha says he’s like the modern Gandhi, embracing khadi with complete panache.

Source: www.gqindia.com

Kamal Haasan’s new label, KH House of Khaddar, spotlights khadi to contemporise it

We speak with the actor and co-founder, Amritha Ram, about the new venture and their impending Paris Fashion Week debut

Khadi is a fabric that is rooted in Indian history. Associated with languid shaped and muted colours, KH House of Khaddar is here to challenge and alter this stereotype by giving the fabric a makeover. Founded by veteran actor Kamal Haasan with his costume stylist and designer Amritha Ram, the label is presenting khadi cut in sharp silhouettes and rendered in punchy colours and statement ombrés. Taking pride in the fabric synonymous with India, they are putting it on the global map with their upcoming and exciting debut at Paris Fashion Week.

We speak with Kamal Haasan and Amritha Ram about their new venture and get a peek into their PFW collection.

Tell us a little about your label, House of Khadaar? Why and how did the idea for it come from?

Kamal Haasan: My connection with fashion and apparel started with my film career. I have never been part of any advertising campaign, except recently, in my 60-years long career. But part of some of my films were known for their sense of style. I have been responsible for some of the brands coming to Chennai from Bombay through my films. My connection with Mr.Gandhi and the khadi fabric is deep. Though it came to me later in my life, it felt like serendipity in my mind. Along with khadi, came the pride – the fact that it's so instrumental in our freedom struggle. It makes me proud to present a fabric that runs through my father, my grandfather and generations before that. I find a sense of pride in taking it to the world.

What drew you towards khadi? Was it your intention to break from that stereotypical image of khadi?

Amritha Ram: Though I am trained as a fashion designer, I have been working as a costume designer with the kind of mentors people dream of. I always try to understand what the DOPs look for in a fabric from their perspective, and one thing that stands out is texture. That's how I started falling in love with the textural element, which comes across so well in khadi. But I wanted to do something that made it different, and what better than colour? I added an ombre colour to it and realised that it is a very versatile fabric, and we can do anything with it.

So when we started experimenting with it, the first step was to bust the myth that khadi is boring and about muted colours and patterns. We wanted to break the stereotype, and we did it with colours. We used A/W colours for our first collection, Nunool. The patterns were contemporary because we wanted to show the world, and most importantly to our country, the possibilities with khadi, and I think we did that successfully. We set new standards for khadi.

With Paris Fashion Week (PFW) on the horizon, how are you translating this fabric rooted in India to create designs that cater to a global audience?

Amritha Ram:  With PFW, KH House of Khaddar is proudly presenting khadi denim. It is out of the box, but with a mentor and teacher like Kamal Haasan sir spearheading it, nothing is impossible. He comes up with these ideas, and I put my knowledge and technicality into them. It then expands from an idea to a strong base that we construct on. For PFW, we have dyed the khadi in pop colours. Who would have imagined that? We are super excited to present this collection because everything you look for in a spring-summer from KHHK is present. The global audience is going to love it simply because texturally, it has got so much grain and depth. That's why we have called this collection Warp and Weft. I’m sure everyone's going to love it.

source: https://www.mid-day.com/

Kamal Haasan’s fashion line KH House of Khaddar that offers a modern spin on khadi to be showcased at Paris Fashion Week

Since its launch in November, Kamal Haasan’s fashion line, KH House of Khaddar, has gained attention for its honest intent. The idea behind the label is to modernise the indigenous textile and present it in a chic avatar to suit the youth’s sensibilities. In doing so, the brand aims to uplift the lives of handloom weavers in India. Haasan also intends to take khadi — a fabric synonymous with India — to the international audience, thus familiarising them with the country’s history. As a first step, KH House of Khaddar will be showcased at the Paris Fashion Week, which kicks off today. 

Source: www.news18.com

Thanks to the conscious evolution in the world of fashion over the last couple of years, khadi is not an unfamiliar term anymore. The fabric, which is closely associated with one of the defining events in India’s struggle for independence, had almost lost its existence in its purest form.

Any natural fabric, cotton, silk, jute or wool, hand-spun and handwoven, can be called khadi. It is a precious craft intertwined deeply with the story of this country and is highly sustainable compared to mill-made cloth. Additionally, it is vital to satisfy the textile demands of the market. Now it has become a part of mainstream conversations as brands and consumers in India are giving this humble fabric a modern makeover and embracing clothes made out of eco-friendly raw materials.

In a latest development, India’s iconic star Kamal Haasan has launched his own Khadi label on the occasion of Republic Day. A true prodigy and a powerhouse of sheer unadulterated talent, Haasan has caused a lot of buzz with his just-launched designer brand, KH House of Khaddar. Not only this, the multiple National Award winner also unveiled a fragrance line in Chicago, KH Memoir. The new clothing line is created to showcase khadi as a modern fabric to appeal to young consumers and simultaneously support the business of handloom weavers.

The actor, also a choreographer, singer, writer and director maintains that khadi has the potential to re-connect with people and takes pride in the fact that the label is contributing to uplift the country’s handloom weavers. Speaking on the launch of his clothing line, the cinema legend said, “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more. “I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons,” he was quoted by IANS as saying.

Designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, Amritha Ram also mentioned that through the brand, they want to send out the message that the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection, are taken care of.

Source: www.indulgexpress.com

Superstar Kamal Haasan launched the website of his fashion label, KH House of Khaddar, after launching it at a high-octane event in Chicago in November 2021. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee launched the portal of his sustainable brand on Republic Day, making it available for fashionistas in India and the United States.

Making the much-awaited announcement over a zoom session, Haasan reiterated the vision of Mahatma Gandhi. “We are showing the world what it means to ‘be the change you want to see’ as ascribed by the Father of our Nation,” avers Haasan launching the clothing line that features authentic handlooms blended with Indian heritage and Western designs and silhouettes.  

Giving out more information on the collection Haasan said, "Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more." Continuing he adds, "When we launched our label, our collection was showcased in Chicago in fall 2021. It is the city of winds, and the temperatures were icy, but I could walk down in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I believe that khadi is a textile for all seasons."

KH House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a chic, cool and modern avatar that will appeal to the youth of the nation. The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India. The current edit includes formal and everyday wear pieces for men like bomber jackets, double-breasted coats, slim-fit blazers and more. For women, there are chic wrap jackets, trousers, crop jackets mini skirts and more in pastel shades of mustard, olive and pink.

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram the head of creative of KH House of Khaddar who has styled the star many times for his screen projects says, "I would want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on a global map, we as a brand would make sure that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability - Economic Development, Social Development and Environment Protection at all stages and that would be my dream for Khadi."

source: 

Filmfare Middle East

Manju Ramanan speaks to the Kamal Haasan who launched his fashion label KH: House of Khaddar today

source: exbulletin.com

One of India’s biggest superstars, South Indian megastar Kamal Haasan just launched his own clothing label and on the sidelines of Republic Day, he made a global pitch for the says khadi, a hand-spun and woven natural fiber cloth promoted by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle.

According to the actor, who has launched a Khaddar (Khadi) label, it not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons. Kamal is of the opinion that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named ‘KH House of Khaddar’, which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more,” IANS quoted him as saying.

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: “It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up . I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: “I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi.”

Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; “The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful and all natural.”

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country’s handloom weavers. With Inputs from IANS.

Source: eveningstandard.in

Since the time Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan had launched his debut fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ in Chicago, there has been a constant anticipation among his fans regarding the merchandise.

The wait is finally over, as Kamal Haasan launched the website of his fashion Line ‘KH House of Khaddar’. As of now, the products will only be available to be shipped in India.

The superstar presented his clothing line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ to the members of the media and VIP guests present at the function held in chicago last year. A portion of the proceeds from pre-release product sales at the event was donated to Pivoting in Heels, a Non-profit organisation Haasan supports. The product line will be open to everyone from 26th January on www.khhk.in.

Interestingly, ‘KH House Of Khaddar’ was amongst the first fashion brand who supported the New York’s Fashion Sustainability bill. KH House of Khaddar is a pioneer in creating a 100% eco brand and each fabric is hand-dyed with organic dyes. They have zero chemical wastes and hence zero carbon footprints.

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile. The generic image that Khadi holds in most people’s minds is about to be shattered as KH House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a chic, cool and modern avatar that will appeal to the youth of the nation. The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India.

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and head of creative of KH House of Khaddar says, “I would want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on a global map, we as a brand would make sure that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability – Economic Development, Social Development and Environment Protection at all stages and that would be my dream for Khadi.”

Kamal Haasan on his part for the launch of Khaddar says “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more. When we launched our label, our collection was showcased in Chicago in fall 2021. It is the city of winds, and the temperatures were icy, but I could walk down in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I believe that khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

source: news24online.com

Chennai: Kamal Haasan went live on January 26, Republic Day with his debut fashion line KH House of Khaddar. The superstar presented his clothing line at a function held in Chicago last year, but it is only now that he has launched the website, where, the products will only be available to be shipped in India.

Commenting on the launch of the website and his fashion label, the iconic superstar said, "Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like 'What can khadi do for style and fashion?' It can do all that linen can, and much more. When we launched our label, our collection was showcased in Chicago in fall 2021. It is the city of winds, and the temperatures were icy, but I could walk down in a three- piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I believe that khadi is a textile for all seasons."

 For the unversed, during the launch of the fashion label last year, a portion of the proceeds from pre-release product sales at the event was donated to Pivoting in Heels, a non-profit organization Haasan supports. 

Kamal Haasan's fashion label, in fact is one of the very first fashion brands which went on to show support for the New York's Fashion Sustainability bill. KH House of Khaddar is a pioneer in creating a 100 per cent eco brand and each fabric is hand-dyed with organic dyes. They brand boasts of having zero carbon footprints as they have zero chemical wastes.

In contemporary times, when fashion labels are continuously causing environmental damage, the bill, if passed, will hold all brands accountable. 

At that time, commenting on it, partner and designer for the brand Amritha Ram had said that they are proud to be associated with a brand that is an integral part of the green revolution. 

The designer had added, "I am grateful that Kamal Sir thought that I can shoulder the responsibility of taking an Indian fabric global. It is our endeavour to make khadi a pioneer in sustainability and we as a brand a wholly committed to the cause."

The whole concept behind KH House of Khaddar is to create a clothing brand that flaunts khadi as a textile. The generic image that Khadi holds is about to be shattered as KH House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a modern avatar that will appeal to the youth. Apart from promotion khadi as the fashion choice for the next gen, it also attempts at creating jobs and uplifting the handloom weavers in India. 

source: saachibaat.com

Since the time Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan had launched his debut fashion line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ in Chicago, there has been a constant anticipation among his fans regarding the merchandise.

The wait is finally over, as Kamal Haasan is set to launch the website of his fashion Line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ on 26th January. As of now, the products will only be available to be shipped in India.

The superstar presented his clothing line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ to the members of the media and VIP guests present at the function held in chicago last year. A portion of the proceeds from pre-release product sales at the event was donated to Pivoting in Heels, a Non-profit organisation Haasan supports. The product line will be open to everyone from 26th January on www.khhk.in.

Interestingly, ‘KH House Of Khaddar’ was amongst the first fashion brand who supported the New York’s Fashion Sustainability bill. KH House of Khaddar is a pioneer in creating a 100% eco brand and each fabric is hand-dyed with organic dyes. They have zero chemical wastes and hence zero carbon footprints.

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile. The generic image that Khadi holds in most people’s minds is about to be shattered as KH House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a chic, cool and modern avatar that will appeal to the youth of the nation. The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India.

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and head of creative of KH House of Khaddar says, “I would want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on a global map, we as a brand would make sure that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability – Economic Development, Social Development and Environment Protection at all stages and that would be my dream for Khadi.”

Mr. Kamal Haasan on his part for the launch of Khaddar says “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more. When we launched our label, our collection was showcased in Chicago in fall 2021. It is the city of winds, and the temperatures were icy, but I could walk down in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I believe that khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Source: in.fashionnetwork.com

The men’s and women’s fusion wear brand had first launched in Chicago in the U.S. in November, 2021 and its new Indian website marks its official entry into the Indian market. 

“Khaddar needs no introduction,” said Haasan at a virtual press conference to launch his brand’s Indian website, The Hindu reported. “It’s woven into the fabric of the nation. We cling on to the thread and climb. We are proud to launch our business on Republic Day.” 

The brand’s garments are designed by Amritha Ram and its maiden collection ‘Nunool’ features a wide range of trench coats, jackets, skirts, and dresses for the winter season. With a colour palette of neutral tones and pops of blue and pink, the garments are designed to be layered for versatility. 

The collection was manufactured using organic dyes which produce zero chemical waste and zero carbon with hand dyeing techniques. The brand is also designed to be sustainable and support the welfare of its weavers, according to Haasan. 

“Whenever we spoke of exporting khaddar to the West, the first question asked was ‘Who would want to wear an Indian politician’s costume?’ It’s not a politician’s costume: it is a historic thread that connects people like freedom fighters and the free Indians of today,” said Haasan.

source: deccan.news

Hyderabad: Ever since Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan launched his debut model line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ in Chicago, there has been a constant anticipation among his fans about the goods.

The wait is finally over as Kamal Haasan launches the website of his model line ‘KH House of Khaddar’. From now on, the products will only be available for shipment in India.

The superstar presented his clothing line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ to members of the media and VIP guests at the function held in Chicago last year. A portion of the proceeds from pre-release product sales at the event was donated to Pivoting in Heels, a non-profit organization that supports Haasan. The product range will be open to everyone from 26 January on www.khhk.in.

Source: https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/

Since the time Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan had launched his debut fashion line 'KH House of Khaddar' in Chicago, there has been a constant anticipation among his fans regarding the merchandise.

The wait is finally over, as Kamal Haasan launched the website of his fashion Line 'KH House of Khaddar' on 26th January. As of now, the products will only be available to be shipped in India.

The superstar presented his clothing line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ to the members of the media and VIP guests present at the function held in Chicago last year. A portion of the proceeds from pre-release product sales at the event was donated to Pivoting in Heels, a Non-profit organisation Haasan supports. The product line will be open to everyone from 26th January on www.khhk.in.

Interestingly, 'KH House Of Khaddar' was amongst the first fashion brand that supported New York's Fashion Sustainability bill. KH House of Khaddar is a pioneer in creating a 100% eco brand and each fabric is hand-dyed with organic dyes. They have zero chemical wastes and hence zero carbon footprints.

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile. The generic image that Khadi holds in most people’s minds is about to be shattered as KH House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a chic, cool and modern avatar that will appeal to the youth of the nation. The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India.

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and head of creative of KH House of Khaddar says, "I would want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on a global map, we as a brand would make sure that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability - Economic Development, Social Development and Environment Protection at all stages and that would be my dream for Khadi."

Mr. Kamal Haasan on his part for the launch of Khaddar says "Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more. When we launched our label, our collection was showcased in Chicago in fall 2021. It is the city of winds, and the temperatures were icy, but I could walk down in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I believe that khadi is a textile for all seasons."

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

One of India's biggest superstars, South Indian megastar Kamal Haasan just launched his own clothing label and on the sidelines of Republic Day, he made a global pitch for the says khadi, a hand-spun and woven natural fibre cloth promoted by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle.

According to the actor, who has launched a Khaddar (Khadi) label, it not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons. Kamal is of the opinion that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named 'KH House of Khaddar', which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, "Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like 'What can khadi do for style and fashion?' It can do all that linen can, and much more," IANS quoted him as saying.

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: "It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons."

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: "I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi."

Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; "The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful and all natural."

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country's handloom weavers. With Inputs from IANS.

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country's handloom weavers. With Inputs from IANS.

Source: telugustop.com

Mumbai, Jan 26 : Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says Khadi, the banner of India’s freedom struggle, not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons.He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named ‘KH House of Khaddar’, which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day.Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, “Our first collection is not pompous.It answers questions like ‘What can Khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more.”

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: “It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece Khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up.I do believe Khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: “I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection.That is my dream for Khadi.”

Talking about what separates Khadi from others, Ram said; “The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to.It is raw, beautiful and all natural.”

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts Khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country’s handloom weavers.

Source: filmyvoice.com

Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says khadi, the banner of India’s freedom wrestle, not solely represents Indianness, but in addition is a material for all seasons. He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with folks and all it will take for it to occur is a good suggestion to domesticate this affinity.

The actor was talking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothes line named ‘KH Home of Khaddar’, which went reside on the event of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype across the cloth, he says, “Our first assortment shouldn’t be pompous. It solutions questions like ‘What can khadi do for type and style?’ It might do all that linen can, and way more.”

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he mentioned: “It’s the Windy Metropolis and the temperature there can flip icy, however I might stroll down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its heat held me up. I do imagine khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and inventive head of KH Home of Khaddar, mentioned: “I need to guarantee that alongside presenting the designed component that might put KH Home of Khaddar on the worldwide map, we as a model ship out the message that we comprehensively handle the three dimensions of sustainability: Financial Improvement, Social Improvement and Environmental Safety. That’s my dream for Khadi.”

Speaking about what separates khadi from others, Ram mentioned; “The fluidity of the material! One can groom the material the best way one needs to. It’s uncooked, stunning and all pure.”

The thought behind KH Home of Khaddar is each to create a clothes line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the nation’s handloom weavers.

Source: www.prokerala.com

MUMBAI, JAN 26 : Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says khadi, the banner of India's freedom struggle, not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons. He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named 'KH House of Khaddar', which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, "Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like 'What can khadi do for style and fashion?' It can do all that linen can, and much more." Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: "It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons." Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: "I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi." Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; "The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful and all natural." The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country's handloom weavers.

Source: www.glamsham.com

Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says khadi, the banner of India’s freedom struggle, not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons. He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named ‘KH House of Khaddar’, which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more.”

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: “It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: “I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi.”

Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; “The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful and all natural.”

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country’s handloom weavers.

Source: www.msn.com

Mumbai, Jan 26 (IANS) Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says khadi, the banner of India's freedom struggle, not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons. He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named 'KH House of Khaddar', which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, "Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like 'What can khadi do for style and fashion?' It can do all that linen can, and much more."

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: "It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons."

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: "I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi."

Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; "The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful and all natural."

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country's handloom weavers.

--IANS

Source: www.mangalorean.com

On R-Day, Kamal Haasan makes a global pitch for khadi

Mumbai: Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says khadi, the banner of India’s freedom struggle, not only represents Indianness, but also is a fabric for all seasons. He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named ‘KH House of Khaddar’, which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more.”

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, he said: “It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: “I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi.”

Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; “The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful and all natural.”

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country’s handloom weavers.

Source: https://www.koimoi.com/

Megastar and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan says khadi, the banner of India’s freedom struggle, not only represents Indianness but also is a fabric for all seasons. He maintains that it has the potential to re-connect with people and all it would take for it to happen is a good idea to cultivate this affinity.

The actor was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his clothing line named ‘KH House of Khaddar’, which went live on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. Breaking the stereotype around the fabric, he says, “Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more.”

Recalling the launch of the label in Chicago in Fall 2021, Kamal Haasan said: “It is the Windy City and the temperature there can turn icy, but I could walk down the streets in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I do believe khadi is a textile for all seasons.”

Commenting on the launch, Amritha Ram, designer and creative head of KH House of Khaddar, said: “I want to make sure that alongside presenting the designed element that would put KH House of Khaddar on the global map, we as a brand send out the message that we comprehensively take care of the three dimensions of sustainability: Economic Development, Social Development and Environmental Protection. That is my dream for Khadi.”

Talking about what separates khadi from others, Ram said; “The fluidity of the fabric! One can groom the fabric the way one wants to. It is raw, beautiful, and all-natural.”

The idea behind KH House of Khaddar is both to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile and to contribute to the uplift of the country’s handloom weavers.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/

In Chicago’s cruel winter, at -3 degrees Celsius, it was a khadi jacket that kept Kamal Haasan warm. To be precise, a jacket from KH House of Khaddar, his just-launched designer label. Now, khaddar has taken over his wardrobe.

“Khaddar needs no introduction. It’s woven into the fabric of the nation. We cling on to the thread and climb,” says Kamal at the virtual press conference to launch the website for House of Khaddar in India. “We are proud to launch our business on Republic Day,” he says, adding, “Let’s hope khadi will do better than burgers in India.”

The brand’s first collection, titled Nunool, was showcased in Chicago in November 2021. “Whenever we spoke of exporting khaddar to the West, the first question asked was ‘who would want to wear an Indian politician’s costume?’ It’s not a politician’s costume: it is a historic thread that connects people like freedom fighters and the free Indians of today.” The actor says he is emotionally connected to the fabric, as his father, who was a lawyer and part of the Independence movement, used to wear khaddar to court.

The first collection for Fall Winter is heavy and has a lot of trenches, jackets, trousers, skirts and dresses in olives, browns, blues and pinks. Amritha Ram, the designer, put everything together with the layering concept in mind, so people can use each piece in different ways. Amritha says the next collection will be launched at the Paris Fashion Week.

Kamal also takes pride in the fact that KH House of Khaddar is eco-friendly, conscious about sustainability, and the welfare of the weavers associated with the label. “The fabric is hand-dyed using organic dyes. Our dyes have zero chemical waste and zero carbon,” he states, adding, “We have taken Gandhiji’s advice seriously and become the change we wanted.”For details, log on to www.khhk.in

source: www.galatta.com

Source: moneycontrol

Popular film actors foraying into the business of fashion is not new. And Kamal Haasan is the latest superstar to have joined this bandwagon. The actor-director-producer-dancer-singer and politician, recently announced that he is launching his own fashion brand called KH-House of Khaddar.

The brand’s debut Fall/Winter 2021 collection will be launched in Chicago, USA, this month. The collection for men and women will be shipped globally, and is touted to comprise casual wear as well as couture.

Known for his attention to detail and penchant for perfectionism, Haasan visited the weavers of Kancheepuram himself. The National Award-winning actor was moved by the efforts weavers put in and how little they get paid.

In an interview with Moneycontrol, Haasan said the craft (weaving khadi) is dying, and it is up to youngsters to save it, retrieve it.

To be sure, Khadi has seen a revival [again] in recent times with exhibitions like New Traditions: The influences and inspirations in Indian Textile, 1947-2017 curated by Mayank Singh Kaul at the Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, in 2018, and contemporary brands like Good Earth, péro and 11.11 ELEVEN ELEVEN championing it in their collections. Yet someone of Haasan's fame and resources could indeed give the fabric a fillip. Given the brand's focus on Western silhouettes and colours rarely seen in khadi, the fabric could also find new takers.)

Haasan said he is keen to make the indigenous textile more relatable to youth today, and help the artisans and weavers too. The ultimate goal of a sustainable fashion brand, he said, is to have a system that works without leaving a negative footprint.

Excerpts from the interview:

What made you come up with this name?

The things that I respect mean a lot to me. I respect khaddar the textile and I respect the khaddar weavers and I wanted to house the two of them into one with my clothing brand KH House of Khaddar, so that people would respect us.

Tell us about the brand. What made you foray into clothing?

The endeavour of KH House of Khaddar did come out with all kinds of criticism earlier on as many people have begun working in fashion and did not reach far. But like Mahatma Gandhi, I believed in khaddar too and approached it with that same kind of will. And I found that positivity and vision in Amritha Ram to re-invent the fabric and the dreams to map it globally.

KH House of Khaddar's line has been designed by Kollywood costume designer and stylist Amritha Ram. She has also styled you and your daughter Shruti Haasan. What makes her work special to you?

Culturally, Amritha Ram is aware and seeped in Indian traditions. Professionally, she has studied fashion in NYC (New York City) and hence understands the fashion industry. Therefore, her understanding of both the ends of the spectrum is her USP. And someone with such USP is great for business. We work together in synergy and we believe in this together. Her passion, commitment and willingness to push and work hard are things that make me believe in her. And her thirst for constantly learning more, learning new things, helps her grow and that is why we’ve been working together for a while now.

What do you have to say about sustainable fashion?

Whether you’re a designer, a brand owner or a fashion lover who does not love fashion’s impact on the planet, choosing sustainable fabrics is one of the first things we all can do to make our wardrobes more eco-friendly. We, KH House of Khaddar, as a sustainable fashion brand, create fashion in a way which is most considerate of humanity and the environment, thereby reducing the environmental impact wherever possible. The ultimate goal is to have a system which works without leaving a negative footprint.

What do you think is the best thing about your brand?

At the KH House of Khaddar, we would be working directly with various weaver and craft communities, using a 360-degree approach to connect weavers, hand block makers, printers, and GI-certified clusters. (GI stands for geographical indication; it is a recognition given to fabrics like Banarasi silk and Odisha Ikat which can only be produced in the specified region.)

With versatile products ranging from casual wear, bespoke, couture and pret, each product of ours tells a unique story of its crafting and crafts person. It is not just our passion but also our mission and responsibility to build a truly sustainable future for these communities and families by creating new and smart products and a look at different business models that help increase production and incomes for them.

That apart, the most important USP of our brand would be “re-inventing’ and “re-designing” the fabric itself. Khadi is no longer about silhouettes that don’t flatter. We at KH House of Khaddar have come up with an array of colours, (the cloth is) dyed organically to perfection and (we) are creating western silhouettes and patterns to perfection that would put khadi on the global map.

Source: thequint

Kamal Haasan talks to us about his new fashion line - KH House of Khaddar.

Video:

https://youtu.be/52GGW6QcE6s

Source: mid-day

Kamal Haasan’s earliest memories are of his father D Srinivasan wearing a crisp white shirt and lawyer’s robe made of handspun khadi. “He [my father] was involved in India’s freedom struggle with [Mahatma] Gandhiji, and I remember him selling all the foreign goods we owned at the time. That memory of him advocating Swadeshi has stayed with me,” the veteran actor remembers. The 67-year-old decided to take the legacy forward by launching KH House of Khaddar, a clothing line in collaboration with designer Amritha Ram. The collection puts the spotlight on a weave with a deep socio-cultural context, but in a modern avatar. The website, which goes live this month, is also an effort to uplift and better the lives of the handloom weavers that his outfit is collaborating with.

Interestingly, Haasan’s own sartorial statement is somewhat “retro”. “For me, fashion is civil yet disobedient. I have a fascination for two-and-three piece costumes, and prefer the whole shebang... like the kind you see in Peaky Blinders. Think tweed, soft flannels, checks and textured  suits and scarves,” he elaborates. Although the idea of the fashion label had been marinating for long, it’s only after he met Ram on the sets of Bigg Boss Tamil in 2018 that the concept began to take shape. Ram, who has worked for Tamil and Telugu films, styled and designed costumes for the actor and is also working with Haasan once again in his upcoming Tamil film, Indian 2. “Bigg Boss became a learning curve [to launch] KHHK because that’s where we went all out to experiment with his outfits. We kept it strictly Western, which is similar to what you will see in our collection,” says Ram, about the label that has designs for both men and women. According to her, Haasan’s keen understanding of fabric intricacy made working on the project a learning experience. “He doesn’t approach the textile with preconceived notions. He first experiments, then approves and sometimes, gives his own spin to it,” she says. Khadi being a fairly fluid fabric made her job easy. “I had to figure what I could do with it and couldn’t do. Every fabric comes with certain limitations, but our job [as designers] is to present it as a limitless fabric. It’s sustainable, and also absorbs dyes beautifully. We have used organic dyes and it has worked wonderfully.”

The limitations of khadi, thinks Haasan, are actually its virtue. “There’s a special mention on the label about how we derive the indigo, pink and other bright colours that we have used for the collection.” They plan to, however, work on making the fabric a little more malleable.  Haasan, who cross-dressed for the 1997 film Chachi 420, says he took up the role not for the money, but to experience the full spectrum of fashion. “The original film was in Tamil and was called Avvai Shanmugi. I decided to give it a shot and I’m glad it worked well.” It is said that Haasan would sit for five-hour-long make-up and prosthetic sessions. Experimenting is then clearly up Haasan’s alley. And he hopes to continue this with KHHK. For the summer collection, he says, they want to incorporate pop colours like neons.

Source: BI INDIA PARTNER

Actor Kamal Haasan has entered the the fashion industry with the launch of his label ‘House of Khaddar’.

The superstar presented his clothing line ‘KH House of Khaddar’ and the ‘KH memoir’ fragrance line to the members of the media and VIP guests present at the function held in Chicago. A portion of the proceeds from pre-release sales at the event were donated to Pivoting in Heels, a Non-profit organisation Haasan supports.

The idea behind House of Khaddar is to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile. The generic image that Khadi holds in most people’s minds is about to be shattered as House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a chic, cool and modern avatar that will appeal to the youth of the nation. The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India. The fragrance line is inspired by the ancient use of scent in every religious ceremony or prayer.

Commenting on the brand, designer of 'KH House of Khaddar' Amritha Ram says, "This is part of the big fashion dream every designer has because it is a validation of your work and this opportunity coming from Kamal Haasan makes all the difference. It means the boss believes that the product is desirable enough to translate itself to the market. The greatest joy for me in putting together this collection is to be able to create a kind of a fashion democracy. We as a brand want people to understand the concept of inclusivity and fluidity. These are increasingly important conversations, given our current environment. Sustainability has to be on your mind as a designer today; it’s our responsibility. If we consume less, the world will become more sustainable."

On launching his debut fashion line in Chicago, Kamal Haasan says "Chicago is a special city with rich history. The desi culture here speaks for itself. We needed the right city to showcase our brands. The population here understands both fragrance and clothing more than anywhere else in North America.”

When asked about collaborating with any celebrity or athelete to endorse KH Brand Line, He says "If the celebrity and or athlete shares our vision and can maintain the brand standard we would keep in consideration. We want to make sure we collaborate with the right individuals to gain the right scope for both lines of business."

Source: MW COVER STORY

For a restless artistic spirit like Kamal Haasan, loyalty to a single muse is secondary. 

His glass is overflowing, but that does not stop him from seeking more creative venues. He travels, writes poetry and song lyrics, makes movies (fasten your seat belts for Vikram, a fist and fury action romp coming this summer), sings and dances, plays Bigg Boss on TV, busies himself as a leader of his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), and then some. And that “some” is the 2021 collection of his clothing line, KH House of Khaddar, and KH Memoir, a fragrance line that he recently unveiled in Chicago.

The intention is to showcase khadi as a chic, cool, and modern fabric to appeal to young consumers, while also supporting the dwindling business of handloom weavers—something Haasan learnt from his Gandhian lawyer father, who had supported khadi since the pre-Independence times.

Haasan fits the part of a fashion label owner quite well. He has been a style icon in south India for a long time. Like all his creative pursuits, he has been fearless in experimenting with colours, textures, fabrics, designs, and cuts. Give him crazy, give him weird, give him gorgeous, he plays the perfect clothes horse in his movies, and outside of it. His interests in fashion and styling came through the way of costumes, as a young classical Bharatanatyam dancer, on and off-screen. He’s played characters whose costumes and make-up have been consistently path-breaking in Indian cinema. At school, he tried the Beatles’ look from album covers donning pencil pants and boots and tight shirts, silks, and jewels for his dance performances and innovative fabrics and designs for his movies, setting fashion milestones effortlessly.

He kept it real as the village idiot with a heart in Pathinaru Vayathinile (1977), clad in a loincloth and a grubby veshti—a time when matinee idols in Tamil cinema traded image consciousness for authenticity. The press went crazy over a dashing, urbane hero dropping his city slicker glad rags to play a country bumpkin. Sliding into groin-hugging tights, a sparkly velvet cloak, and embroidered cape, he danced like an anachronistic Romeo with Sridevi in the song Vadivelan Manasu Vachan from Thayillamal Nannilai (1979). “As we were transitioning from black and white cinema to colour, the colour compass could be a bit off at times, not Rembrandtesque,” he laughs at the memory. Still, the innovation and experiments with fashion and styling continued. 

He swung around with an ominous edge in a beret, sneaky baseball caps, big collars, coloured vests and leather jackets and flared pants to play the role of a killer in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978). “I wanted to channel the menacing style of Ted Bundy,” he recalls. The result could have teetered towards an American psycho in Madras, but it worked. Within a week of the movie’s release, the thambis began strutting on the streets with long hair and droopy moustaches, in coloured vests, big-collared shirts and pants with flares that rivalled the pavadai of the girls.

He recalls that since he “played the parts of bad boys early on” in his career, he was untouched by the restrictions of keeping up with a traditional hero’s image. Given the iconic Hollywood bad boys and their impressionable styles, Haasan remembers being fascinated by “villains on screen who were always very stylish”. Stars like Gene Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks, and Robert Redford also made an impression. However, for Haasan, his late eldest brother, Chandrahasan, remains a personal style icon. 

Before the advent of satellite television and the Internet, styling and chasing fashion was difficult. “Our access to styles and images were also through magazines and travels, and on my first ever trip abroad to Singapore, I shopped for stuff that had popped out of style and movie magazines,” he says.

In 1980, Haasan slayed it in Sakalakala Vallavan with shiny disco gold pants so tight that they could cut off blood circulation to the legs, a sparkly top, wicked biker chains, and leather jackets. 

If Haasan ever admits to having a fashion party, it was for the Tamil Bondesque caper Vikram (1986). He concedes that it was a milestone in his fashion journey. He had collaborated with the ‘Raja of Filmi Razzmatazz’, the Bombay-based Xerxes Bhathena, the designer for Bollywood movie stars. He recalls Amjad Khan looking like a stoned Chinese Ming emperor in trailing moustaches and silk robes; Dimple Kapadia like an exotic princess in copper-coloured flowing gowns, and him in slick pants and jackets. “I had limited resources and access to material but had a creative romp designing for the film,” he recalls. In those days, “Bombay set fashion and style standards much more than Delhi,” he says. In the pursuit of his interests, he even travelled to the US and Europe to train in costume and styling. 

Given his passion for style and fashion, it only seems natural that Haasan would one day launch his own fashion line. And now that he has established KH House of Khaddar, he speaks to us about his new label, personal style, khadi, and much more.

You are an inimitable brand yourself and have been a fashion style icon. What led you to collaborate with designer Amritha Ram to create a brand rich in history at this point in your career?

Amritha Ram and I spoke the same cinematic and sartorial language when we started working in the same industry. We became friends, and now, we are a fashion team. Fashion-wise, I followed extra mural laws learned by acquired experiences and understanding. I was worried that I might not fit well in a crowd educated in fashion and design like Amritha, who trained at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology. But as we talked, my gestures and ideas were supplemented with her fashion vocabulary. And khaddar (khadi in Tamil) seemed the perfect fit.

The KH House of Khaddar clothing line seems to be about experimenting, and the results come as a breath of much-needed, fresh air to the fabric. Are you the force behind your designer to constantly ensure the collections uphold the ethos of maintaining brand KH’s heritage, while also keeping it relevant to current world trends? 

It’s a fine balance between not forcing your ideas and highlighting the ones that work well. That’s why the team works, and our collective remains a highly creative one. I think the experience will teach us more as we experiment and see how the ideas work in the real world. A conversation about the commercial aspects led us to develop fashion lines that we think will work. Our first collection is not pompous. It answers questions like ‘What can khadi do for style and fashion?’ It can do all that linen can, and much more. When we launched our label, our collection was showcased in Chicago in fall 2021. It is the city of winds, and the temperatures were icy, but I could walk down in a three-piece khadi outfit, and its warmth held me up. I believe that khadi is a textile for all seasons. 

When was the first time you wore a khadi garment? Weren’t your father and family admirers of Gandhi? 

Like most boys, the first time I wore khadi was when I nicked my father’s khaddar (in Tamil) coat. It was oversized, as my father would often wear loose garments, and this one fell to the ground from my tiny shoulders. I resembled an Arab in that flowing coat, and as I strutted, my mother tut-tutted that my costume play had ruined her meticulous ironing of the starched coat. When I grew up, I told my father that he wore khadi as a mark of protest against British colonialism and to support Indian weavers and textiles who lost jobs, but after Independence, I didn’t have to. He laughed and said, “It’s not just a textile; it’s a symbol of strength”. And much later, as he lay in the hospital during his last days, I visited him and asked him if I could buy him a silk veshti for the Deepavali festival. He mocked me, saying, “Oh, you can buy hundreds of silks, can’t you now? There are hundreds of fathers in the world who can’t afford that. Machine-made textiles and expensive silks can’t win me over. I will always wear khadi as a symbol of an egalitarian textile and proudly so”. 

What’s the one Indian fashion habit you hate?

To blindly imitate the West. That’s a fashion habit I’d like to kick. Indian dressing and design are based on comfort, and it’s practical,  suited to our weather and culture. I remember I was so fascinated by the Roman toga during my early teens that I started draping one at home, much to the chagrin of my mother. She then banned me from strutting around in the toga because, you know, a naughty gust of wind could make it quite embarrassing.

Indian politicians prefer white. You seem to be turning that statement on the head and appearing in casual trousers and shirts for your public campaigns. Will your sartorial statement as a politician switch to khaddar in future? 

I hate cliches, and I literally hate wearing hypocrisy. A white garment doesn’t make a man as pure as a lily, and I don’t want to create a false symbol. I come from an industry that creates characters and costumes for personalities, and I know how false they are and how temporary they are. When I’m reaching out to and connecting with people, I want to be what I am. I represent this generation, and I will be the way I am because that’s how they would like me to be. What is special is that even during the party campaigning time, I wear a lot of khadi. However, I noticed that most people didn’t realise that it was khadi. I think that’s when the khadi experiment started. We use sustainable dyes, without harmful chemicals, to produce the desired tones and bright colours in khadi. The sustainable path is the path of the future.

Tell us a bit about KH Memoire. How is it different from other brands in the same space?

I’m a great fan of perfumes, and though modern society believes that perfumes are a very western concept, I’d say it’s a very eastern idea. In medieval times, India exported perfumes to Rome and the Middle East. Indian fragrances and perfumes made from sandalwood offered a combination that was both exotic and heady. I am proud of that heritage, and I am a collector of perfumes. I always wanted to create perfumes, and when somebody approached me, it was a dream come true for me. This perfume came from my heart as I did not pretend to know the technique of making perfume, but I shared my dream of what I would like a perfume created by me to be. A perfume is like a costume and does not stay the same, for it smells and emits fragrance differently for each occasion.