ira pants - kantha vintage cotton shalka (M)

Name: ira pants - kantha vintage cotton shalka (M)
Brand: Fifth Origins
Price: 126,00 EUR
Availability: InStock

€126

Versatile Pants

Colour, craft, and everyday ease. Handwoven in 100% old vintage sarees using Kantha craft

Ira Pants (One of a Kind)

There is something very special about wearing a textile that has already lived a life.

Our Ira Kantha Pants are made from vintage cotton sarees, layered and held together with the familiar running stitches of Kantha. The fabric carries traces of its past through its colours, prints, soft fading and hand-repaired details.

We have shaped it into an easy, wide-legged pair of pants that feels relaxed, expressive and completely natural to wear. The fabric moves beautifully, and the simple silhouette allows the textile to remain the focus.

Each pair is one of a kind.

Details

Made from vintage cotton Kantha
Hand-stitched by artisans in Sikra through Bondutha community
Relaxed, wide-leg silhouette
Elasticated waistband
Side pockets
Soft and breathable
One of a kind

The Textile

Kantha began as a way of bringing old sarees together and giving them another life through hand-stitching.

The tiny running stitches hold the layers together, while the original prints, colours and signs of use remain visible. We leave these details intact because they are part of the beauty and history of the textile.

Fit

The Kantha Pants have a relaxed fit with an elasticated waist and a wide, flowing leg.

They are comfortable enough for everyday wear, while the character of the textile makes them feel anything but ordinary. Please check the Size, Material, Care tab for more details.

Made In

Designed in Amsterdam and made together with Kantha artisans and tailors in Sikra, Bengal, India.

Made with 100% humanity.

Material

Recycled vintage cotton Sarees

Small marks, faded areas, patches and irregularities may be present. These belong to the earlier life of the textile and are part of what makes the piece unique.

Size

SMALL - MEDIUM

Length - 40" , 101.1cm

Waist - 28", 71.12cm (unstretched)

LARGE - EXTRA LARGE

Length - 40" , 101.1cm

Waist - 32", 81.12cm (unstretched)

Care

Wash gently at 30°C with similar colours. Use a mild detergent and avoid bleach. Air dry and iron on a low setting when needed.

Small marks, faded areas, patches and irregularities may be present. These belong to the earlier life of the textile and are part of what makes the piece unique.

Kantha: Old Sarees, New Stories

Ever wonder what happens to beautiful old sarees in India? In Sikra village and other small villages in West Bengal and bodering Bangladesh, they get a second life through the age-old Kantha technique.

Here's how it works: Hawkers collect vintage sarees from all over India. These sarees are then layered (at least 4-5 layers) to first make quilts. It's usually done by groups of women who sit together, chatting and stitching, turning these old fabrics into pieces of art. Their nimble fingers create patterns that tell stories - of tradition, of their village, of the fabric's past life.

Once they're done, our tailors step in, shaping these stitched-up saree quilts into wearable art. It's slow fashion at its best - and the best part? Every piece is unique, just like you.

When you wear our Kantha pieces, you're not just looking good. You're wearing someone's labor of love, supporting a village, and giving new life to old cloth. Pretty cool, right?

Made by - This product is made by our artisan community Bondutha. Bondutha—meaning friendship—is our artisan community partner based in Nadia district, West Bengal. It's home to more than 2,000 women artisans who specialize in Kantha embroidery, supported by their extended families, local tailors, and cultural keepers. This community is a thriving ecosystem of tradition, skill, and collaboration—and an integral part of our vision to build slow, ethical, and empowering fashion systems.

So next time someone compliments your jacket, you'll have quite a story to tell!

Your Impact

Each pair of Kantha Pants is made by reworking existing materials and using hand processes at every stage.

What Goes Into Each Pair	The Impact
Around 3–4 vintage sarees reused	Existing cotton textiles are brought back into use instead of being discarded.
No new fabric produced for the main body	The garment is created primarily from materials that already exist.
Kantha hand stitching	Layers of old sarees are joined and strengthened using rows of hand stitching.
One-of-a-kind construction	Each pair is made from a different combination of vintage textiles and is produced as a single piece.
Made in small quantities	The pants are not cut from standardised rolls of fabric or produced in large batches.
Existing textile character retained	Original prints, colour variations, repairs and signs of age remain visible in the final garment.
Cut and stitched in Bengal	The Kantha textile is prepared and tailored by skilled makers familiar with the material and technique.
Designed for continued use	The textile moves from its earlier life as sarees into a new, wearable form.

Around 3–4 sarees. One pair of pants. No two alike.

Made with 100% humanity.

We ship worldwide*

Every piece is made in small batches and mindfully handmade by skilled artisans.

Ready to be shipped. (unless mentioned in the description above.) Once the product is shipped, we cannot cancel or make any changes in the order.

For orders shipping to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, we are now exploringa new carrier partner for shipping. While it is not the fastest shipping method available, it offers the best balance between reliability and affordability, especially in light of rising international shipping costs.

As a result, delivery times may be slightly longer than standard express services. We appreciate your patience and understanding, as this allows us to keep shipping costs as reasonable as possible while continuing to serve these destinations.

We ship worldwide using different carrier partners:

Country/ Region	Carrier Partner	Delivery timeline
US, CA, AU, CH, UK	DHL, Express I UPS I PostNL \| new carrier partnet	3-7 days I 2-4 weeks \| 4-6 weeks.
EU	DHL Express I UPSI DPD	3-7 days
Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Greece	PostNL	3-4 weeks