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

$64.00

USA based
30-day returns

WF-N095

In stock · ships in 1 business day

Artisan made with love

Dozens of small fabric-wrapped beads pile into a dense, rounded cluster at the front, each one printed differently — teal, coral, ochre, wine and navy all packed into a single crowded arc.

Material: Cotton textile over hand-carved wood
Color: Multicolor
Length: 17 in, plus 3 in extender
Origin: India
Metal: Metal wire and gold-tone chain

The bib is anchored to a slim gold-tone chain that carries a second strand of spaced beads back to the extender. Concentrated color at the collarbone, an uncluttered line to the jaw, and enough small surfaces for the light to catch every scrap of fabric.

Details

Two-strand overlapping fringe
Lightweight wood-core beads
Mixed prints and colors on every bead
3-in extender chain
Repurposed cotton textile

Every bead is wrapped in a different cut of reclaimed cotton textile, so the colors, prints and their placement will vary from piece to piece and from the photo.

The Story

Kantha is a running-stitch textile from the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, made by layering worn cotton — old saris, dhotis, yardage — and stitching the layers into fresh cloth for quilts and wraps.

Because each bead here is wrapped in a small cut of that reused fabric, no two carry the same print or palette. The jumble of florals, stripes and solid tones is a visible record of the cloth's earlier life, not a designed pattern.

Each wood core is hand-carved, wrapped and stitched in cotton, then wired individually and clustered strand by strand into the layered fringe. Every bead on the piece is placed on its own — a slow, additive assembly done by women artisans in India under fair-trade terms.

Craft & Care

Technique: Kantha textile wrapping

Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth. Store flat or hanging so the fringe does not tangle, and keep away from water, perfume and direct sun.

Questions

What is kantha, and why does every necklace look different?

Kantha is a running-stitch textile technique from the Bengal region of India, used to layer and reuse worn cotton cloth. Each bead is wrapped in a small cut of that reused fabric, so the prints and colors are never identical from piece to piece.

What are the beads made of?

A hand-carved wood core, cut from wood furniture scraps, wrapped in repurposed cotton kantha textile.

How long is it, and can I adjust the fit?

17 inches with a 3-inch extender chain, so you can wear it close to the neckline or let it sit slightly lower.

Is it heavy given how full the fringe looks?

No. The wood cores keep it light even though the layered, multi-strand fringe reads as a bold bib.

How do I care for it?

Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth. Store flat or hanging so the fringe does not tangle, and keep away from water, perfume and direct sun.

Multicolor Kantha Cluster Bib Necklace

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