A red kantha stitch cotton handloom dress material from West Bengal, with multicoloured kantha embroidery across the neckline and front panel of a maroon-red top fabric that has a tie-dye texture. The dupatta has hand-embroidered accents and printed patterns, and the bottom fabric shares the same dyed base. It suits office wear, daily wear and casual festive days.
Design details
- Top: Maroon-red cotton with a tie-dye texture and multicoloured kantha embroidery on the neckline and front panel. Top fabric: 2.5 x 0.84 metres.
- Bottom: Same dyed red base as the top. Bottom fabric: 2.5 x 0.84 metres.
- Dupatta: Hand-embroidered accents with printed patterns. Dupatta: 2.0 x 0.84 metres.
- Set: Unstitched three-piece cotton set.
Occasions and styling
Stitch the top as a straight-cut suit or A-line kurta so the embroidered neckline sits front and centre. Oxidised jewellery with juttis or kolhapuris suits the red for pujas, get-togethers or a festive day at work.
About Kantha embroidery
Kantha is the hand running-stitch embroidery tradition of West Bengal, where rows of small stitches create textured motifs across the fabric. As with all handloom and handwork, small irregularities in weave, colour or stitching are a natural sign of handwork, not a defect.
Care
Before stitching, hand wash each piece separately in cold water to pre-shrink the fabric, and dry it in shade. After stitching, keep washing it separately in cold water with a mild detergent, as handloom dyes may bleed slightly, and iron on medium heat.
