Malkha

Malkha reimagines India’s cotton story; reconnecting farmers, spinners, dyers, and weavers through a decentralised and sustainable textile model.

Their work began as a response to the deep ruptures caused by colonial industry, which severed traditional production chains and replaced indigenous desi cottons with American long-staple varieties grown for British mills.

This shift not only displaced local farmers, but also dismantled the small-scale spinning and weaving networks that once thrived across India. The baling and unbaling of cotton; introduced to suit mechanised industry; damaged the fibre’s natural qualities, stripping away elasticity, insulation, and its ability to hold colour.

Malkha’s process restores what was lost. By spinning unbaled cotton locally, they retain the fibre’s original character; springier, more breathable, and beautifully absorbent to natural dyes. Their looms use traditional jowar millet reeds, which create subtle slubs and textures that modern machinery cannot replicate.

Working with diverse indigenous cotton varieties, plant-based dyes, and small-scale looms, Malkha’s approach revives both ecological balance and human connection. Their revolution in cotton is not just technical; it’s cultural. Returning the knowledge, dignity, and ownership of this ancient craft to the people who grow and weave it.