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Kantha embroidery on Italian crepe

About the Embroidery -

Kantha is known as the “running stitch of Bengal.“ Its origins trace back centuries to the pre-Vedic Times (1500 BCE). The story of Kantha begins with thrifty women in rural Bengali households, salvaging old sarees and holding them together in layers with a simple running stitch.  Primarily used as baby quilts, these blankies became a focal point for women gathering in groups to practice their art. They poured their creative energies into it, singing their folk songs and often incorporating their life motifs into their work. From the world of baby quilts, the Kantha stitch soon started running through sarees, jackets, shawls, scarves, and myriad household objects.  However, the women still made meagre earnings that were barely enough to feed their families.

Pia grew up in Bengal, close to where these artisans live and work.  Pia Ka Ghar was founded to tell the story of these subalterns, the female artisans, and to give them better opportunities.

Kantha has come a long way from the days of recycling to one of the most sophisticated forms of embroidery in the world (sold at the Louvre in Paris) while maintaining traditional and indigenous integrity. You can help us support these women in their endeavor to join the ranks of empowered women. In doing so, you empower yourself to make someone's next day a little bit better.