KVIC bags 1.8 lakh face masks order from Indian Red Cross

The IRCS masks will be made of 100 per cent double-twisted handcrafted cotton fabric in brown colour with red piping. KVIC has especially designed these double-layered cotton masks for the IRCS as per the samples provided by them. The mask will have suitably printed IRCS logo on the left side and the Khadi India tag on the right side. The supply of masks will begin by next month, KVIC said in a statement.

KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena welcomed the purchase order from the IRCS and said the massive demand of khadi face masks is a major step in the direction of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. “This order will help our khadi artisans to produce more yarn and fabric and will further add to their income in these difficult times,” Saxena said.

“Face Masks are the most critical tool to fight the Corona pandemic. These masks prepared from double twisted khadi fabric not only meet the quality and scale of demand but are cost effective, breathable, washable, reusable and bio-degradable,” Saxena added.

KVIC has so far sold over 10 lakh face masks which include double layered cotton masks and triple-layered silk masks. The biggest order for face masks that the KVIC received was from the Jammu & Kashmir government for 7 lakh masks that has been delivered on time.

Approximately 1 lakh metre of cotton fabric worth over ₹1 crore and nearly 2,000 metres of silk fabric of different colours and prints has been used in making these masks till recently.

KVIC received repeat orders from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister’s Office, Central Government ministries and orders from general public through KVIC’s e-portal. KVIC has supplied over 20,000 face masks to the Indian Railways too. Apart from the sale, KVIC has free distributed nearly 10 lakh khadi masks to the district authorities though its Khadi Institutions across the country.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)