KHADI by Helena Bajaj Larsen
Designer Helena Bajaj Larsen left Paris to move to New York and attended Parsons School of Design. Her focus from the start has been on textile design and the exploration of a surface through print, knit and various other techniques. Outside of school, she tried to develop textile related skills as much as she could through internships (Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Mary Katrantzou for Embroidery, Thakoon) and workshops in India.
For her final terms in Parson she chose the topic of "khadi". Khadi constitutes an Indian homespun cotton cloth often referred to as “the fabric of social change” due to its crucial role in the Indian Independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. Her thesis by this very name is a contemporary take on an old story which is both close to her heart as it reflects her family history but also embodies her passionate relationship to textiles.
“I travelled to many factories and collectives studying how Khadi was made from start to finish (plucking the cotton, to weaving it and then dying it) which helped me better understand the potential of collaboration between craftsmen and designers and when the opportunity presented itself in April, I applied for a design fellowship in Haiti led by Donna Karan and in partnership with Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation. Thankfully I was one of the three students they chose to go to down to Haiti for the summer to develop a range of products with the local artisans at a design training center called D.O.T located in the capital city. It was an incredible experience and ever since I have been trying to think of ways I could keep working on projects of this sort.”
Recently, Helena was shortlisted as one of the top 20 finalists for the WGSN X ARTS THREAD Future Creator Award as well as one of the five selected brands (out of 600 applicants) of the Lakmé Gen Next Mumbai Fashion Week competition. Each year they select five young designers to showcase their work among established Indian designers at the country’s largest fashion event.
Photographer: Helena Bajaj Larsen
Model: Neloufar Taheri
Styling Assistant: Mary Raggazino