Meet the Emirati designer who is promoting khadi in the UAE

Abu Dhabi - Emirati designer Freyal Al Bastaki says "there is a lot one can do with khadi in the UAE as the fabric is perfect for the desert."

India's national fabric - the Khadi, is making the cut among the Emiratis as a preferred material for abayas.
Emirati designer Freyal Al Bastaki from Dubai says "there is a lot one can do with khadi in the UAE as the fabric is perfect for the desert."
"It is easy on the skin. Khadi will keep you cool during summer, and warm during winter. I have designed abayas using khadi because it is just perfect in this weather," Al Bastaki told Khaleej Times.
She was chosen by the UAE embassy as part of the initiative to promote Khadi in the UAE.
Bastaki will be showcasing her special creations that blend Indian textiles and Emirati designs at the Khadi fashion show that will be held along with a special Republic Day reception on Saturday at the Jumeirah Etihad Towers.
The Emirati designer said when she started working with Khadi, the first thing she understood was that it is not just a fabric. It is an emotion.
"I had to first understand the history of Khadi and how it is deeply intertwined with India. As a designer who draws inspiration from the culture and history of the UAE, it was easy for me to design Khadi in a way that will reflect the spirit of the fabric," she said.
"I have incorporated the traditional Emirati embroidery work called Talli into the Khadi fabric. It was interesting as both represent the heritage of two countries that share a special bond," said Bastaki.
"My fashion line is more occasional wear. I have tried to show that Khadi, with all its simplicity can also ooze opulence and class."
Indian designer Sunaina Suneja will also be exhibiting her collections that are 'trendy and modern.'
The fashion show and exhibition is held by the embassy in collaboration with Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Apparel Group and Indian Business & Professional Group (IBGP). It will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as he popularized Khadi as a symbol of self-reliance and to promote indigenous textiles.
Indian Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri said in view of increasing demand for Khadi, the Indian embassy will promote Khadi and its products with textile groups in the UAE to fill gaps in the retail sector.
"We are delighted to foster a collaboration between two leading designers - Sunaina Suheja and Feryal Al Bastaki - to showcase contemporary design in Khadi. We want to emphasise that Bapu's khadi has moved from a humble symbol of India's freedom struggle to a chic, fashionable, sustainable and eco-friendly fabric," Suri told Khaleej Times.

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi