DECEMBER: INDIAN COTTON
In 2018, Nishanth Chopra traveled by train through his home state of Tamil Nadu and watched Merku Thodarchi Malai (figure 1). The movie tells the story of farm laborers in the Western Ghats. It highlights the rise of industrial farming and the exploitation of landless farmers by farmland owners in Southern India. It made Nishanth, who had a collection of clothing and textiles made in Tamil Nadu using local artisans called Oshadi, think about how he could engage with farmers differently for Oshadi’s raw materials.
Figure 1: The cover of Merku Thodarchi Malai
Today, Oshadi manages over 250 acres of regenerative farmland and is navigating its largest cotton harvest yet (figure 2). In an industry where most processes are isolated from each other, Nishanth is unique in his passion for and experience in almost every aspect of a garment, from the soil to the finished product. For the last five years, he has connected farmers, spinners, weavers, printers, sewers, and brands to create Oshadi Collective.