About Kantha
Kantha simply means “Patched Cloth” and is an ancient Indian tradition of recycling old unused fabric into something useful.
Kantha, pronounced as “KAHN-taa” is a traditional method of stitching found in Indian embroidery, traditionally found in Bangladesh, Bengal, Odisha and Tripura. Originally created by stacking old saris and fabrics onto each other before hand stitching them together using a simple running stitch to create stronger and thicker layers of fabric.
Traditionally Bengali women would stack old discarded saris and clothing with the basic kantha style stitching to make bedspreads and pillows for sleeping.
Kantha stitched embroidery is one of the most important textile arts in Eastern India; it can be traced back 500 years as a way to recycle old saris, dhoti’s, and house textiles into quilts for warmth and comfort. Even the yarn used to make the embroidery came from salvaging old materials from other clothes and fabrics.
Due to the elaborate nature of some of the textiles used, with varying colours and patterns block printed by hand onto the soft cotton cloths and silks, each Kantha blanket is crafted into a completely unique piece of art.
Over time, Kantha became an art form passed down from generation to generation. It can convey stories of family lineage and well wishes for loved ones; it has been used as a bride’s dowry or given to honor one’s mother as part of an elaborate ceremony typically performed on the Durga Puja holiday.
Nowadays, Kantha is becoming increasingly popular in the Western world and, as we push towards greener living, is a beautiful and authentic way of becoming more sustainable. There are now more ways than ever to use this wonderful upcycled fabric, with shops around the world stocking colourful Kantha homewares, and even big brands such as Toast selling coats and jackets made from Kantha for an increasingly high price point.
For a more affordable and contemporary way of styling Kantha, why not check out our beautifully made Kantha Jackets, Shorts and Lounge Pants over at https://www.kaohinani.co.uk
Our Kantha clothing is expertly crafted from colourful vintage Kantha blankets by our tailor in Rajhastan. Each piece is carefully considered with thought for the pattern placement in the garments design, and if treated with love and care, will continue the story of Kantha for many years to come.