KANTHA

Translation by Chiara Cordoni

Kantha comes from Bangladesh, Eastern Bengal, and is a type of embroidery craft born in a rural environment, realized by women during their free time. It is a form of reuse and recycle of old clothes. Fabrics are stacked on each other to become quilts, hand-stitched together by this traditional type of embroidery consisting in a simple stitch, which we would call basting, using a thread that is usually white and only rarely colored. This embroidered cloth, which comes in very different measures, is used in many ways, as shawls, light blankets, cushions and home-made carpets. In some cases, the stitches draw wonderful motifs of flowers, birds, animals and geometrical shapes, or simply themes of every-day activities. The almost symmetrical stitching on the cloth gives it a slightly wrinkled, wavy effect. When exploring the textile world of the far East, we who are passionate for patch/quilting clearly see the similarities between this work practiced by poor women for the more fortunate ones, and the traditional work of worldwide quilters. Today there is a craft industry spreading this interesting art, using online connections.

What I find fascinating about Kantha is color and motifs, which have no boundaries, and the creativity of some artists who mingle it with traditional quilting. There are many similarities and these unite, never divide us.