Artisan craft story - Kantha

 

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!