Textile Jewelry

Recycled kantha cloth wrapped, knotted and strung into jewelry: big color, very little weight.

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Multicolor Kantha textile bead cluster bib necklace with gold-tone chain, handmade in India from recycled cotton, shown on a sand background

Multicolor Kantha Cluster Bib Necklace

Multicolor Kantha Cluster Bib Necklace
$64.00
Multi-strand pewter pebble bead stretch bracelet with a rectangular plate, cast in Türkiye, shown on a sand background

Pebble Bead Stretch Bracelet with Rectangular Plate

Pebble Bead Stretch Bracelet with Rectangular Plate
$48.00
Full view of the silver rondelle necklace with black cord and loop closure, shown on a sand background

Graduated Silver Rondelle Necklace on Cord

Graduated Silver Rondelle Necklace on Cord
$56.00
Silver-tone cast pewter abstract face pendant on black cord with toggle clasp and textured beads, made in Türkiye

Sculptural Face Pendant Necklace

Sculptural Face Pendant Necklace
$44.00

About Textile Jewelry

Kantha is layered, hand-stitched cotton, traditionally made from worn saris. Here it is cut into strips and wrapped around beads, knotted into clusters and strung into collars, so every piece carries a mix of prints and colors that nobody planned in advance.

Because the base is fabric rather than stone or metal, these pieces can go big without getting heavy. All are made in India. The cloth is recycled, so the colors vary from one piece to the next.

What kantha is

Kantha is a running-stitch technique from Bengal in which layers of worn cotton, often old saris, are quilted into a new cloth. The stitches show, the prints show through each other, and no two lengths match. Cut into strips and wrapped tightly around wood beads, the cloth becomes the surface of the jewelry: pattern on pattern, at a scale that metal could never carry so lightly.

Pieces run from $20 to $64, and most weigh less than a pair of sunglasses.

How do I clean textile jewelry?

Keep it dry and out of perfume and hairspray. Dust with a soft, dry brush. If a bead gets marked, dab it with a barely damp cloth and let it dry flat. Do not soak it.

Is every piece unique?

Yes, in the literal sense. The cloth is recycled, so the mix of prints and colors on any one piece cannot be repeated. The photo shows the piece we photographed; yours will share its palette and construction but not its exact pattern.