Birbhum, West Bengal

Kantha Stitched Sari and Embroidery

Kantha, meaning stitch, is the Bengali art of layering old saris and dhotis and stitching them into quilts, saris and embroidered pieces. Birbhum has a large community of kantha artists, with the state craft directory counting around 1,574 of them in the district. Kantha-stitched saris and embroidered bags, shawls and quilts are staple stock at Amar Kutir and in the Bolpur-Santiniketan markets. The layered recycled cloth gives a soft, story-cloth texture that new fabric cannot match, and no two pieces are alike.

Typical price: ₹500-5000

Buying tip: Check the stitch density and the layers of old cloth; quality varies between pieces, and the Amar Kutir cooperative in Santiniketan is a reliable place to buy.