Kantha Silk Scarf - Chintz

One-of-a-kind silk scarf, crafted from two layers of hand-picked, repurposed silk saris & strengthened with fine, all-over kantha, hand stitched by our partner, a women’s cooperative in rural West Bengal.

Textile Story

Our signature Kantha Sari Scarves, Wraps & Shrugs were the very first products made by House of Wandering Silk way back in 2011! Each is made using two layers of repurposed sari fabric, every piece handpicked by us for their fabulous colours and designs, & paired one by one in our studio.

These layers are stitched together in the style of kantha, in which women hand sew rows of tiny running stitch from end to end to provide strength and enable the recycling of saris. This kantha creates a rich, rippling effect across the fabric & adds a unique texture to the products. 

Kantha is a tradition of hand embroidering patchwork cloth from rags. Over time it evolved from a simple running stitch into a rich & varied embroidery language, depicting motifs influenced by religion, culture & the rural lives of the women stitching them. Deeply rooted in Bengal & with a history of over 3,000 years, kantha is rich in story & meaning.

Whether it be a plain stitch on patched rags, or highly illustrative embroidery on the finest silk, this humble art form is created today as it has been for centuries: in small, unassuming village homes by women who spend days, weeks & even months on one piece.

Each piece is unique - you will never see the same combination of fabrics and threads twice. Any variations or irregularities are to be celebrated. They are part of the design & inherent to the handcrafted production process, making this item beautifully unique.