Kantha

Ginvaani Weaves brings to you beautiful, unique and elaborately embroidered Kantha Scarves, Stoles, Quilts and other varieties.

Kantha, literally patched-cloth, is a charming textile that seamlessly combines both embroidery and quilting. The crafting of kantha has been a cherished tradition in the Indian state of W. Bengal and the neighbouring country Bangladesh.

Kantha motifs are sourced from a rich living tapestry of beliefs, mythology, nature and everyday life that makes up the life of people. God endearing episodes from the epics;  men and women going about their daily activities as well as celebrating festivals; animals specially elephants,  birds,  fish,  trees,  flowers as well as geometric patterns cheerfully share space on kantha. The central motif on large kantha may often be a lotus, a flower associated with purity and prolific regeneration. The pattern and placement of motifs is completely in the needleworker’s hand, while there is an underlying harmony, symmetry and balance within the composition there is no compulsion to create a mirror image of motifs or a unidirectional embroidered textile. Interestingly, as there is no rigidity of motifs, the needleworker may repeat different versions of the same motif on the kantha. After the motifs are completed, the entire background is filled in with running stitches, passing through all the layers, quilting the textile and creating a beautiful rippled effect. The kantha is broadly divided into different sections: borders (one or more), broad panels on all sides next to the borders and then the central space forms the core of the composition.