Indigo Bead Cluster Collar Necklace

$48.00

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AK-N42-BLU

Dozens of small round beads mass at the front, layered in tones of indigo, denim and near-black. The composition builds volume without weight — a sculptural collar with the softness of fabric.

Material: Recycled cotton sari textiles, brass
Color: Indigo and denim blue
Length: 20 in plus 3 in extender
Drop: 4 in
Chain: Brass
Closure: Lobster clasp
Origin: India

Worn against a plain neckline, the mottled surfaces catch light differently across the cluster. Some beads are smooth, others flecked with lighter blue, a few showing hints of the original sari print. The result reads dense on the eye but sits light on the collarbone.

Details

Hand-wrapped fabric beads
Multi-strand cluster construction
Mottled hand-stitched bead surfaces
Lobster clasp with brass extender chain
Lightweight despite dense visual scale

Every bead is wrapped from reclaimed sari fabric, so color, pattern and texture vary from one necklace to the next.

The Story

The beads come from Kantha, a running-stitch textile tradition from Bengal that layered worn cotton saris into new cloths instead of discarding them. That instinct for reuse is what this necklace draws on, translated from flat quilting into three-dimensional beadwork.

Small scraps of sari cotton are cut, wrapped and bound tightly around a core until they hold a rounded shape. Dozens of these beads — varying naturally in size and pattern depending on the source cloth — are strung and knotted in clusters to build up the collar, with a slim brass chain and lobster clasp added at the back.

The mottled surface of each bead comes directly from the printed and dyed patterns of the saris the fabric belonged to. The indigo and denim range reflects the everyday sari cloth these scraps are sourced from, giving the piece its collected, layered character.

Craft & Care

Technique: Kantha textile-recycling tradition

Keep dry and spot clean with a soft cloth. Avoid soaking or harsh cleaners — the beads are fabric.

Questions

What is Kantha?

Kantha is a running-stitch textile tradition from Bengal, historically used to layer worn cotton saris into new quilts and cloths rather than discard them. Here the same reuse of sari fabric is applied to individual wrapped beads.

How long is the necklace?

It measures 20 in with a 3 in extender chain, and the beaded cluster has a 4 in drop.

Is it heavy to wear given how full it looks?

It is lighter than it appears. The beads are wrapped fabric rather than solid material, and the closure uses a slim brass chain and lobster clasp.

How do I clean and store it?

Keep it dry and spot clean gently with a soft cloth. Because it is fabric-based, avoid soaking or harsh cleaners.