Bamboo is the textile of the future

At the event, she talks about her path-breaking bamboo silk ikat textile and how sustainable production is revitalising artisanal livelihoods in the country. 

For the past three decades, Madhu has been promoting indigenous forms of textile weaving and design and revitalising artisanal livelihoods. When she started off three decades ago, she decided to use the weave as a form of embellishment. 

“Back then, weaves were not fashionable and more importance was given to manmade fibre. But I made a conscious decision to focus on the use of the weave. In my opinion, weavers are the greatest mathematicians and fashion is a very powerful platform to revive craft techniques which are dying out,” Madhu starts the conversation. 

Her experiments with alternative fibres led her to bamboo and she created a whole new textile, bamboo silk ikat textile in 2017. “When I learnt that India is the second largest bamboo producing country, I realised that the country has the potential to grab global attention in bamboo-yarn production. This will also provide livelihood options to bamboo farmers,” she says. 

Developing the world’s first bamboo-silk ikat textile is no mean feat and Madhu, often acknowledged as the ‘the first lady of Ikat’, says the new textile is a result of 15 years of hard work and extensive research. 

“It’s very easy to purchase a fabric off the shelf, but being a part of the evolution of a new textile is extremely overwhelming. Everybody is talking about sustainable fashion but only a few create a movement within the industry. 

Bamboo textile is biodegradable, eco-friendly and leaves a minor ecological footprint when compared to factory-produced cloth. Moreover, it is pocket-friendly, UV protective and has anti-bacterial properties,” explains the conversationalist, adding “Bamboo is the textile of the future.” 

She has travelled extensively through rural India to meet master craftsmen and has collaborated with various NGOs and selfhelp groups. 

“Factory-produced textiles are flooded in the market and it’s overtaking the natural fibres sector. This compels the artisans to take up other work options, which is really saddening. 

Even, the next generation of weavers doesn’t want to carry the legacy of their forefathers. I want all the fashion enthusiasts to come together and support the artisans and weavers in India. The natural textile industry should survive and flourish,” she says.