The Gamchha is a traditional towel made up of thin coarse cotton fabric, often with a checked design, used mainly in Bengal and Bangladesh. Literally translated, it means 'something to wipe the body with, “ga” which means "body" and “mochha” which means "wipe"
With handloom fabrics and a ‘back to the roots’ approach picking up pace as we look out for sustainable alternatives in a fast fashion market, there’s much to be said about the ‘gamchha’ fabric that has undergone a sartorial revolution of its own.
Bangladeshi fashion designer Bibi Russell is the fashion queen of Gamchha and the original champion of sustainable fashion. She launched Fashion for Development in 1996. It was built on the idea that fashion could facilitate social, economic and sustainable development. Today it’s the biggest thing across the world, the cause of ethical fashion.
