Dress OPERA design Bess Nielsen, handmade khadi, cotton from Andhra Pradesh

OPERA ANDHRA PLAIN - Long Dress with center front buttoning. Front and back yoke with pleats. small string ties longer from neck point 130 cm.

The fabric is hand spun and handwoven cloth, khadi in the mythical Adhra Pradesh and sewn by hand in Bess's studio in Delhi. This is a very exclusive handmade dress from idea to finished garment.

Bess Nielsen was trained in fine arts in Copenhagen.  She has worked with Indian weavers for 30 years and has created her brand and established her unique style. Khadi is a textile that is spun and woven by hand.  Its origins are connected to the first cotton crops that appeared in India more than 400 years ago.

Khadi and Co and Bess celebrate the power of the human hand and fosters effective teamwork from India to Paris. It’s a pioneer of artisan-made luxury fashion, born to create essential clothing.

Bess long journey into the rich legacy of Indian textile crafts led her to understand the profound cultural significance of khadi, a humble cotton fabric and a symbol of India’s Freedom Movement. A hand spun and handwoven cloth, khadi is Bess Nielsen’s long-lasting inspiration and ultimately her life work. In the wake of Gandhi’s message of self-reliance, she is convinced craftmanship and handloom fabrics are absolutely crucial.

Hand spun yarns have an indisputable organic quality, making garments light, breathable and uniquely soft on our skin. While exploring the infinite beauty of khadi weaves, Bess Nielsen has developed a deep connection with India that permeates gently her minimalist design. Quite naturally her one of kind brand conveys values she deems necessary to her work ethics and creativity. 

Spun by a million hands, hand-woven in cotton, silk or wool, 
sumptuous to all the senses, elegant and durable, this is Khadi.

The filament that fired the movement for India’s independence, it is a symbol of resilience, self-reliance, and a commitment to a 
sustainable world.
This has been the inspiration for Bess Nielsen and Khadi and Co.

30°c Machine wash with Gentle soap. Do not bleach. Do not tumble dry. Line dry in shade. Iron at low temperature.

Size M
Length 130 cm
Colour Indigigo/black