A Stitch in time : Slow and Sustainable fashion, fair trade and supply chain transparency are the core principles that form the bedrock of our enterprise. Indriya products are natural, handmade and will endure. We love fashion but not at the cost of people or the environment. This spring, in our maiden venture, we are happy and proud to have collaborated with another social enterprise, a registered voluntary organisation Karma Kutir for an exclusive collection of hand embroidered kantha on silk, sarees and dupattas.
Nakshi Kantha embroidery is a heritage art form practiced by women from Bengal. In the olden days, in rural Bengal, kantha stitch or a simple running stitch was invented out of necessity. Various pieces of discarded cloths were layered and patched together with a simple run stitch and used to lay new born babies for their daily oil massage. They were also used as light covers that adults use at night, and wrap over their shoulders in winter mornings.
Over time kantha began to be commercialised by various self-help groups and women’s organisations that work in the area of skill building and livelihoods. Women started applying their creativity to the simple kantha stitch and the colourful patterns and designs that were embroidered resulted in the name "Nakshi Kantha", which was derived from the Bengali word "naksha", which refers to artistic patterns.
Motifs of the nakshi kantha are deeply influenced by religious belief and culture. Even though no specific strict symmetry is followed, a finely embroidered nakshi kantha will always have a focal point, and around the focal point there are undulating vines or floral motifs, or a shari border motif. While traditional motifs are repeated, the individual touch of the artist is visible in the variety of stitches, colours and shapes typically inspired by nature.
A medium intense floral hand embroidered kantha saree takes approximately 2 to 3 months to make by 1 artist. The more intense or complex the design, the longer the embroidery takes. The process is tedious and time consuming. First a design needs to be planned, it needs to be traced, checked for errors, then the colours need to be planned and then the embroidery execution begins. In a day an artist works for 4 – 5 hours after which fatigue sets in.
Kantha embroidery while produced on commercial scale is still a skill and an art that helps sustain livelihoods in rural parts of Bengal and Bihar. Indriya is proud to have collaborated with Karma Kutir a registered voluntary organisation in rural Bengal that focuses on building skill and improving the livelihoods of underprivileged women.
There are several machine-made embroidery products available in the market under the guise of being hand made. Do make an informed purchase.
Be Elegant, Buy Sensible, Stay Rooted!
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