Kantha (meaning "patched cloth") is both the tradition and craft of producing these unique, quilted blankets (making something useful and beautiful out of discarded items), as well as the stitch itself. It is a craft native to rural, eastern South Asia of the Bengal region — in particular Bangladesh and the neighboring Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha, along the Bay of Bengal.
We use "kantha" primarily to refer to the small, straight, running stitch that quilts our sari-cloth blankets together. Kantha quilts are layers of cloth stitched together, using this regional technique, to make a unique quilted blanket.
At the most basic, kantha has always been a craft of repurposing the old (scraps & rags) into new — functional blankets to keep warm during colder months. Of course, the kantha quilts you see for sale today are not made of old rags! Today, these works of art are made using lightly used, repurposed saris and new thread. Our dignify kantha use 6 layers of saris that have been purchased in bulk, washed, matched, stitched, patched, and washed again. Many modern kanthas use 2 layers of cloth.
A quilt is a multilayered textile with two or more layers of fabric, and usually a filler in the middle. The layers are stitched together to make a blanket or decorative textile piece.
Kantha quilts, specifically, have no inner batting or filler, only layers of cloth — dignify kantha are made from 6 layers of thin, muslin sari cloth.
Kantha quilts are also uniquely defined by the particular kantha stitch. This is a simple, running stitch used in embroidery in the Bengal region of South Asia. dignify’s kantha quilts feature a consistent, straight, kantha stitch spaced 1cm apart.
Made from factory-discarded or repurposed, vintage sari cloth, kantha quilts also embody the kantha tradition of transforming the old into the new & beautiful.
All our products are made by vulnerable & at-risk women in Bangladesh, including survivors of trafficking & exploitation.
Our production partner, Basha, is a generous, safe, kind- & whole-hearted business that employs these women in dignified, sustainable work.
Read more about who makes dignify’s kantha quilts >
— kantha minis are most often bought as baby gifts, or as a lap blanket for a cold office, wheelchair, or sporting event
— Our classic cotton throw blankets are dignify's bestselling, multipurpose gift. Customers & gift recipients use them on the sofa or patio, as a bed runner or for extra bedding warmth, as travel blankets, and as a burst of color in any space. Silk blend throws offer the same, but with a level up in elegance.
— large kantha throws are used around the home for decor and snuggling, or on a twin or double bed. They are also common as gifts for weddings, graduation, and other big milestones.
— We have extra-special handmade quilts for sale that go even beyond the standard kantha quilt excellence. These masterpieces are embroidered worlds of art to be a showpiece accessory in your decor, or for textile-lovers
Read more about uses by scrolling to the bottom of any of the pages linked above, or read customer reviews of their own kantha usage!
