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Gandhi Dress

May 16, 2021 By In Women's Clothes, Women's Dresses No Comments

From the Summer 1987 Catalogue, the Gandhi Dress is made of the same fabric as the Kasuri Shirt although the catalogue copy does not describe the fabric. “At the turn of the century, Mahatma Gandhi entreated his supporters to resist the Raj by devoting daily time to spinning and weaving–as he himself did. The populace took to wearing svedeshi (homespun) cloth, which became a potent emblem of national pride and unity. A dress that’s cut from this strong yet lightweight fabric, we thought, must be versatile and unfettered. One need only ponder its full-cut sleeves, cool straight shape, and big patch pockets to sense its peaceful revolt against constraint.”

Pictures courtesy Kimberlee English- Anderson.

About The Author

Robyn Adams
Robyn’s fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying their clothing and giving her their catalogs. She loved the clothes, and as an artist, she was drawn to the illustrations. Robyn went on to study illustration at an art college in Banana Republic’s hometown of San Francisco, CA, and she worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA and works as a graphic designer and illustrator. She has been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.