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 !
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