Handcrafted pouch made from recycled kantha silk, model no. 03, with tassel
Our pouches are unique pieces featuring Indian motifs and vibrant colours sourced from antique saris.
Recycled silk and geometric stitching - One-of-a-kind piece - Precious tassels handmade in India - 15 x 22 cm
Our silk Kanta clutches are more than just accessories: they are real paintings made by women in Rajasthan from scraps of old saris. Each pouch designed by Karawan is unique, with geometric stitching and pompoms in bright, matching threads, like snippets of life and Indian landscapes.
The essentials
A colourful pouch, lined with a variety of motifs that evoke travel, like a tableau vivant where every detail of the fabric tells a story.
solidarity economy
Handmade
Exclusive creation
Valuing women's work
Natural or organic materials
The Kanta Karawan silk pouches are adorned with visible topstitching that doubles the pouch in 2 distinct fabrics on the front and back. These colourful threads feature motifs of circles, stripes, flowers or geometric shapes that reflect traditional inspirations. The multicoloured pompom matches each shade of fabric.
Our Kanta pouches have many practical and aesthetic uses: bag organiser, travel bag, make-up bag, jewellery bag, sewing bag... Designed by Karawan, they are carefully made by our seamstress who runs an ethical sewing workshop in Delhi.
Clutch made from recycled silk. Handmade pompom with pearls and cotton thread. Size: 15 x 22 cm. Each piece is unique.
KANTHA
The word ‘kantha’ comes from the Sanskrit “kontha” (rag) or the Bengali ‘kheta’ (field). It is an over-stitched embroidery technique practised by village women in various regions of India, particularly Bengal. Historically, it is one of the many textile skills used to give a second life to pieces of reused saris. This technique was used to create cushions, light blankets and decorative objects. Today, kantha is used to embroider garments and textiles such as throws and sheets.
The expertise of embroiderers
To make the kanthas, the embroiderers adjust and sew the silk pieces by hand, following geometric lines or curves. This simple thread produces a new pattern thanks to the brightly coloured lines, which blend in with the background print of the sari.
The kantha is a mosaic of colours and patterns, reflecting the talent of Indian women and an embroidery tradition handed down for centuries.
The Kantha Karawan and its motifs
The Karawan kantha is unique in its design. Each model has its own colours and patterns. The motifs include flowers, animals, birds or scenes from everyday life. For this reason, the embroidery work is elevated to the level of true pictorial art. Following in the footsteps of the Khadi promoted by Gandhi, Kantha is a textile art form that values traditional craftsmanship, while helping to emancipate women and express their unique creativity.
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