Our cotton robes are crafted from Khadi — the Indian name given to cloth that is hand-spun and hand-woven — and Ahimsa silk, which is produced without harming or killing the silk worm. Khadi is incomparably soft and unrivalled for its beauty and delicate texture.

Khadi was promoted by Mahatma Gandhi in the 1930s as an integral part of India's rural self-reliance movement, and remains a powerful symbol of freedom and craft.

We commission our Khadi from a small cluster of spinners and weavers in West Bengal, the heart of Khadi production in India. Immense skill and patience are required to produce Khadi which is made entirely without electrically powered machinery.

Hand spinning creates a yarn that is less stressed and damaged than machine processed cotton, creating a fabric that is much softer to the touch. Unlike "flat", mass produced cotton, Khadi is full of life; small variations in the weave serve as a beautiful reminder that the fabric is handmade.

The craft provides much needed rural employment- especially for women- and preserves artisanal craft skills that are under constant threat by Big Fashion. It also weaves a little magic into the fabric, making each garment a unique and emotional experience to wear.

Working in India to produce Robe de Voyage is a hugely rewarding journey, which we hope helps weave a little of her magic into the robes.

Founder Jess Linklater is committed to supporting this unique industry of hand weaving - a slow, vastly rewarding process which preserves ancestral techniques and artisanal skill.

“Khadi isn't just any old fabric; it's a symbol of liberation and self-expression. Two values that resonate with my life and are at the heart of our company", says founder Jessica Linklater says.