Kantha Hand Embroidery

Kantha is the famous embroidery of the state of West Bengal, India. Kantha evolved out of necessity to drape or protect against cold. Kontha in Sanskrit means rags. It can rightly be called the recycling art. The precious silks and muslins when became worn-out, women instead of throwing them away, piled them in layers and stitched. Kantha was said to be a lady’s self-expression. The real Kantha narrates a story, the emotions and the life of the artist. Kantha is similar to the decorative running stitch of Japanese sashiko quilting. The entire cloth is covered with running stitches, employing beautiful motifs of folk art, gods and goddesses, flowers, animals, birds and geometrical shapes, as well as themes from everyday activities; that means it can be anything the worker can relate to. The stitching on the cloth gives it a slight wrinkled, wavy effect.
Contemporary Kantha as been used by us to make stoles and scarves on silk fabric
All shawls and stoles are available in numerous designs both traditional and contemporary. Products are available in numerous colour combinations which include rich bright colours as well as earthy sober tones. Few samples stoles are given in the photos below.