Silk Kantha T-Shirt

The Nila x Anna Valentine Kantha t-shirt is based on an iconic archive shape from Anna's previous collections. The curved panelling in the sleeves and body creates a sculptural, contemporary silhouette, re-interpreted here by Nila using handwoven textile and traditional Indian techniques. The entire piece is crafted from three layers of fine matte silk, hand-woven on specialised looms in Karnataka. The layers 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 peer closely, you will see that what seems to be a simple texture is actually a geometrically sophisticated pattern of stars in the stitch work. Each seam has been carefully multi-stitched, leaving raw edging. The piece has then been dipped once, carefully, into a natural indigo vat. To create this colour of the clear sky, takes significant knowledge and a perfectly balanced vat.

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