At a recent exhibit, a customer expressed displeasure over the price of one of our garments. Knowing how to stitch, she remarked, "After all, how much time does it take to make a simple garment like this?" Before I could explain, she moved on, dismissing our craft.
Instead of defending our MRP, let's focus on the "time consumed" in making an ambara charaka handspun and handwoven cotton garment. It's essential to acknowledge the collective efforts of everyone involved, not just the tailor.
Cotton Growing: From sowing to harvest, it takes approximately 240 days.
Post-Harvest Processing: Transporting, auctioning, and ginning of harvested cotton add 20 days.
Slivering and Roving: Preparing the cotton for spinning at co-ops takes another 15 days.
Spinning into Yarn: Ambara charaka spinning cotton into yarn takes ten days.
Dyeing and Starching: Once spun, the yarn is dyed, dried, and starched in 10 days.
Reeling: The starched yarn is wound on the required reel over eight days.
Warping: Preparing yarn on the warping drum takes 12 days.
Weaving: Producing 100 meters of handwoven fabric involves 20 days.
Washing and Finishing: Washing the fabric in Bengaluru takes another five days.
Final Touches: Checking, tagging, and preparing the textile for consumption requires three days.
Garment Production: Cutting, tailoring, finishing, and ironing the garment takes two days.
Presentation: Photographing, price tagging, and listing the garment on our website adds five days.
This comprehensive process spans nearly 350 days and involves the livelihoods of over a dozen families. We've skipped some steps and excluded Sundays, festivals, weddings, funerals, and sick days.
Evaluating the True Cost
What truly matters isn't the price tag but the value imbued in each garment. The meticulous process of crafting an ambara charaka handspun and handwoven cotton garment justifies its cost. When you ask, "How much should it cost?" consider the year-long labour, dedication, and expertise in every piece.
By understanding the intricate journey from farm to fabric, we can appreciate the worth of handcrafted garments and the sustainable, eco-friendly practices that define their production.