The Special Kanth Stitch ! All the Way from Assam !!

The Kantha Stitch which is a patterned Running Stitch is essentially known to find its home in West Bengal and Orissa. It is a type of embroidery that uses a patterned running stitch which was originally and Essentially done  on Sarees and Quilts.

Kantha today Finds Several Different applications.

At Banna. We work very closely with a cluster of women for whom their kantha embroidery is not only a source of livelihood but also a source of joy and purpose.

This cluster in  upper Assam ( North East India ) is  home to an enterprising group of young and old Ladies for whom Kantha work is not just a skill , but is part of their culture and everyday lives .. they don’t go to workshops and classes to learn Kantha .. They Just know it ! Kantha is a passion and something that has been handed down through the ages !

There are  several patterns and designs to the Kantha Stitch. While it is essentially a running stitch , the difference comes in , in the layout of the stitch and also its applications.

Our Kantha Designs are such that the running stitch patterns are done very close together to give the overall piece an Embossed look…

There are several instances where this specialized hand embroidery has been mistaken for machine embroidery because of  its layout and the closeness of the Stitch ! This Difference we are told is essentially a regional influence.

The ladies we work with are all home makers with Families to look after and support. They look after their children, husbands, Extended Families, Homes and  efficiently multi- task to create these beautiful embroidered Designs and products. Income generated from the work they do works out as an additional source of  livelihood…. Something that is very welcome.

Our work with this cluster stands out as an example of our every increasing reach across different parts of the country , working with a variety of Different Hand Craft forms.

A key point to note here is that this kantha work from Assam is done on different textiles and hand woven Fabrics sourced from different parts of the country… and stand out as a true amalgamation of different craft forms and Styles.  The in house designs only serve to enhance the Hand craft and its Style ..

Starting this week Banna Will be putting out a special promotion of our Kantha work from the North East as part of our Craft promo month initiative.

To take a look at our Exclusive kantha work and to buy click here: 

http://www.bannacreations.com/craft-promo-month-/161

Meet Shipra and Pushpa Mallick from our Kantha Cluster in Assam ! 

And here is a look at  some of the beautiful pieces they have Created ! 

Threads of life ! – A Story about our partner North Karnataka Cluster

Banna Started three years ago with a dream to work with Traditional Artisans and their clusters from different parts of the country ! We decided to start closer home and thus came upon the crafts and skills in North Karnataka and the people behind them.

Sheila Patil is one such enterprising and leading artisan from a small Town called Shirhatti in North Karnataka.  

Shirhatti in Gadag District is a 3 hour drive from Hubli – the main Bustling Industrial town in the region. It is home to Sheila and her Ladies and all the beautiful work they continuously create.

Sheila ji is the main energy behind this group of women and is single handedly responsible for successfully creating a sustainable livelihood mechanism for a large number of women from this Region.

 The main Skill used here is traditional embroidery. Kasuti and Negi work are two age old forms of embroidery that are native to this region and are also known to many women from a young age.  They are taught this embroidery just like they are taught their lessons in school or important aspects of house work to ready them for their future lives.  Having learnt these forms of embroidery from her Grandmother, Sheila Patil initially used to simply embroider clothes and apparel for people at home, her children or to give them as gifts.  She also taught herself over 3000 different types of embroidery and styles.

Being naturally enterprising and a person with immense talent, she also used this skill to generate an income and support her family and her childrens education when her husband ( being the only Breadwinner in the family ) was bedridden some years ago because of a road accident. 

And through this the seeds of an idea were sown . “ Why not use this skill to teach and train other women in need so that she can support herself she thought ? “ .  “ Why not form a Self help group that befits all ? “ .. “ Why not help women who know the embroidery but don’t have the means to bring in orders and generate an income ? “ ….

And so her  NGO “ Shishir Mahila Kadali Vedika “ Was born. It is through this NGO that she conducts training programs to teach women different types of hand embroidery all over the District. Travel of even 2 hours each way to training locations far an wide is not a deterrant for Sheila who also has a lot of support from her  family.  Sheila Ji is also a resource person for Government co- operatives and conducts training programs through these cooperatives as well.

Of the several ladies she has trained she also directly works with about 50 -100 women to fulfill embroidery orders generated from clients across the country. Not only does this help to generate livelihood or an additional source of income for the women, it also helps the ladies earn this money from their homes – all the order work is distributed with design instruction and picked up when ready.

This Traditional Embroidery work is a life- source for these ladies. It gives them a chance to breathe life into their families and children .. In some cases a chance to live better.

Banna works extensively with Sheila and her group. There is always a desire to learn more and they rise up to any challenge  - be it design, colour, material type etc. The Ladies not only work on Kasuti and Negi work  but also Kutch work, Kamal kadai, Sequins work, Mirror work, Ari and Zardosi work, Pearl and bead work etc 

We will be Focussing on Sheila patil and her work as part of our Craft promotion series this month.

To buy some of our specially designed embroidered textiles;click here

http://www.bannacreations.com/craft-promo-month-/161

All these textiles are a true reflecting of Hand craft and Classic Style – Designed in- house and brought to life with exquisite hand embroidery

The Fine Kota Weave from Rajasthan !

The Kota Weave is a Well known and popular Weave  that finds its origins in Kota, Rajasthan ( Western India ) and some parts of Uttar Pradesh in the north.

The Specialty of this weave is its light Chequered pattern and these textiles are made from cotton or silk Yarn also known as Kota Doria.

The Textiles made which are mainly Sarees are very light because of this chequered pattern and almost weightless.

An interesting fact about the origin of this weave that is such a popular handloom from Rajasthan is that it actually originated in the Earstwhile mysore state which is now in Karnataka.  It is said that a general in the Mughal army who was also a Patron of this Craft took weavers from Mysore to the small village of Kaithoon in Kota District to weave elegant Items of clothing for well placed people from Royal families.

Traditional Headdressed worn by these people including the Pagdi and Safaa were all woven in Fine Kota Style.

The loose checks on this fabric are called “ Khats “ and this fabric is woven with utmost care using pit looms.

While the “ Khats “ give this fabric a very delicate and almost ethereal look, the yarn itself is treated with utmost care and Brushed with onion and rice paste to make to Strong and durable.

Depending upon Design Requirements the Yarn is also sometimes dyed and the Final Ensemble is also Block printed using Traditional Dabu printing Techniques which is another unique Hand craft form Local to Rajasthan.

Kaithoon in  Kota district is that largest producer of Kota Fabric be it Sarees or other accessories with over 2500 looms in this town alone.

As part of our Craft promotions at Banna  We are offering a direct 12.5 percent discount on  a select Range of Kota Sarees.

 Visit www.bannacreations.com; and Click on http://www.bannacreations.com/kota/82

to avail these Discounts ! 

The Utsav – It’s Diwali time

The festival of lights is just a few weeks away from us. The fireflies flit around lighting up the darkness, knowing very soon that they will be joined by thousands of sparkles and sparks lighting up the skies. The colors of the season – bright and fluorescent – lend their charm to the season. The artisan, who works with Banna’s inhouse team knows very well that these threads will be an essential part of the season today.

The magic of Tussar and the richness of the fabric create a beautiful base for these exquisitely embroidered sarees and dupattas.

Sun flame offset with shocking pink in Tussar

A bright yellow color, which seems like it has borrowed a wee bit of color from the majestic Sun is offset with a shocking pink pallav. The motifs reflect the image of the Sun. No surprises why ‘she’ looks stunningly royal. And that ‘she’ could be ‘you’!

Black and pink Tussar saree

Black has many shades. And, if you have seen twilight hour, it’s beautiful. The quietness is so awesome that the whole place seems mesmerizing. That’s the color this saree assumes. And, offset with a shocking pink, with bold gold wide borders running along the length of the pallav.

Black and Turqoise Tussar saree

Stunning and stylish, the turquoise is all grandeur. It’s so beautiful a color that it lends the wearer a character, as she drapes it around herself and shows off the most lovely pallav. The temple weaves add their own aura. Best to be worn if you have a wedding to attend during the festive season

Green and Red Tussar saree

This saree takes its colors from the parrot in your guava tree. The green body offset by a lovely red, with buttas strewn all over…This is a lovely ensemble and provides a rich look and feel

Mustard  Tussar with a touch of Black

This design is elegance personified. Mostly yellow with broad borders, it gives the appearance of a half saree. The eloquent gold patterns bring out the richness of the motifs. As you graciously carry yourself wearing this lovely ensemble, you are sure to hear this – Is that lovely woman really you?

To buy these beautiful pieces click here: 

http://www.bannacreations.com/tussar-silk/39

Call us on 9945611081; or mail bannacreations@gmail.com for details. 

The Banna Dasara Collection : For Puja or to Play Garba !!!!

For Puja or to play Garba, colors, silks and jewellery seem to be just the right ingredients.  Be it the dazzling brightness of the October Sun or the colors of the shy Sunset, we’ve captured them all through various prints and weaves. Vivid, bright, blocks, gold, design – all these elements are woven into our designs for sarees and dupattas. Splashes of pink, maroon, orange, brown, black in lovely and bold designs give the ensemble just the right look for a great evening.

As the festivities begin, the drums beat, the music reverberates…design acquires another meaning. Interestingly, colors form the very basis of this festival – the triumph of good over evil. As you check out the sweets, traditionally prepared or the fine threads that go into the making of sarees, dupattas, shirts, skirts, blouses and so on, spare a thought for the artisans who have worked, investing their imagination and excitement into these products. Each product comes to you with Banna’s special touch – the colors, designs and the same aura that we fuse to ‘handcraft your style’.  All products have received the finishing touch – from tassles, finishing embroidery, picco, hemming (to name a few) - from Banna’s sustainability programs.

We have also brought a vast array of tribal jewellery – from bell drops, rings, beads, loops – all crafted in using brass, copper and silver, to produce that special effect. Rustic glamor! That’s it. Mix and match, choose the right accessory to go with your special Dusshera wear.

Some hightlights from the collection : 

SILK KOTA SAREES - This midnight blue-black silk kota saree with its bold mustard and green motifs is as attractive as it get. The motifs are clearly attractive drawing attention to the bold design. If it is kota, it has to be bold! Right lady?

And, when the weavers sat down to a wholesome mean of Indian bread and vegetables, they recalled their stories heard from their childhood. The  Kota sarees, popularly known as 'Masuria' in Kota and Kotadoria outside the state draw their word thread from 'Doria', which means thread.  Seeing how attractive this has been, the many co-operatives are helping the weavers produce items other than sarees from Kota Doria – such as lamp shades, curtains, skirts and salwar-kamiz.  As for the Kota saris, they display individuality with a bit of embroidery and border patches, making them totally exclusive.

To view or buy the collection click here:

 http://www.bannacreations.com/kota/82

TUSSAR RAW SILK SAREES - 

The most unusual of colors make a striking rhapsody! Today, it is the age of ‘make locally, sell global’. Beige, with yellow and a shocking pink appearance give the saree a special hue.

So, what! It’s Dussehra time. It’s time to bring out your sweet recipes, do your shopping and begin the festive preparations for the festival. The artisan has borrowed from the colors of the festival – the brilliance of yellow, the maturity of beige and the shock effect of that pink. Sitting cross-legged, recalling stories told by the grandmas and grand aunts, the artisan family agree to try out new colors. Let’s go bold, appears to be the theme of this saree.

To buy the collection click here: 

http://www.bannacreations.com/tussar-silk/39

THE MADHUBANI CHANDERI COLLECTION - 

Madhunbani Chanderi black dupatta

It’s midnight black. And, black is beautiful. So, when can you wear it? At a Dusserha party in the evening, where you get to show off the lovely madhubani border.

Chanderi is light and lovely. The colors are bold and brilliant. When the artisan decides to combine different art forms, it is also because he is actually trying to share his knowledge. It’s his creativity that he expresses as he brings out his art skills in trying out the most intricate design border on a midnight black body.

To buy click here: http://www.bannacreations.com/home/black-chanderi-cotton-silk-dupatta-with-madhubani-four-side-border-/451.html

Orange chanderi rhapsody

The orange is more orange than the fruit you can get from the best orchard. You need to be bold and charming to carry it off! Walk into a party and check the pulse! Watch the heads turn….

The colors of flame, the colors of orange and the colors of a passionate flame – that’s the color of ‘orange’. It can appear to be tempestuous when it wants and attractive when it desires. As the artisan sat down to introduce those threads, it may have been a reflection of his excitement. His exchanges from his mind and reflections to action reflect this passion. When you wear a handwoven dress or a saree, or a dupatta, stop to feel the fabric. Take a deep breath and bless those hands that translated his or her dreams into that ensemble.

To buy click here: http://www.bannacreations.com/madhubani/orange-chanderi-cotton-silk-dupatta-with-madhubani-border-/448.html

To view Banna's Entire collection visit: http://www.bannacreations.com/dasara/157

When you buy a Banna product, you are also investing in the dreams and aspirations of the artisans who have been working hard to get you these lovely products on time!