Kantha Smock Top in Shade 4

The Nila x Anna Valentine artist’s smock is a much loved archive shape and has been reinterpreted here by Nila using handwoven silk, natural indigo and the traditional Indian hand embroidery. The entire piece is crafted from three layers of fine matte silk, hand-woven on specialised looms in Karnataka. The precious textile was then dyed in natural indigo vats in Maharashtra, dipped four times to achieve this particular shade of indigo. 

The layers of textile were pressed together and embroidered across their entire length by rural women in West Bengal, using the traditional craft of Kantha - running stitch embroidery traditionally used to create quilts out of repurposed saris. If you look closely, you will see that what seems to be a simple texture is actually a geometrically sophisticated pattern of stars in the stitch work. The embroidery is executed with skill and thoughtfulness. Each seam has been multi-stitched, leaving raw edging, which adds a deconstructed element to this graceful piece. 

Layer your smock over blouses or even fine jumpers, or wear bare for a cleaner line. All the pieces in this collection are meant to be mixed together and layered up.

The Kantha smock is completely timeless. It’s something you may pass down through generations as an heirloom, as is common practice with the traditional kantha quilts. Over time, you may need to trim the threads off the raw seams if they fray slightly. This will not compromise the strength of the garment.

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