Khadi Oaxaca is a non-profit, sustainable textile company based in the mountain village of San Sebastian Rio Hondo, Oaxaca, Mexico. We are dedicated to spinning, natural dyeing, weaving, sewing and embroidering heirloom cotton and locally produced wool textiles by hand. Our work is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Khadi movement in India, which we have melded with local Zapotec traditions, ancient and classic production techniques and innovative designs. Fabric by the meter, homeware and finished clothing are available for retail and wholesale purchases, as well as custom production of collaborative designs.
More than 350 rural artisans participate in the creation of Khadi Oaxaca’s ethical and sustainable textiles. Traditional farmers on the Oaxaca coast grow Khadi’s heritage cotton on ecologically managed, small plots. Over 250 women who live in or near the village, hand spin the cotton and wool on their Gandhi designed, locally hand-crafted spinning wheels. These handspun fibers are then woven on both back strap and pedal looms. The final steps involve dozens of artisans in hand stitching and embroidering their signature applications of Mexican and international folk art motifs.
Khadi Oaxaca recently opened an online store, which is our first attempt at retail sales. This makes it easier for people to find us and purchase our textiles from anywhere in the world. We still have fabric on the shelves, but it is going fast now that designers have started taking an interest in creating products with sustainably produced cloth. Our sales plummeted in 2020, but in 2021 they have grown beyond pre-COVID levels. We believe this is largely due to the fact that many people have come to understand the toll that conventional textile production takes on the environment on workers and on cultures, and they are willing to pay the full price for well-made textiles that support farmers, artisans and the land.