Brass hearts cradle vibrant Kantha beads in warm, earthy tones. At the center, a joyful cluster of carnelian and tiger’s eye gemstones adds grounding richness to this Fairtrade, artisan-made treasure.
-
Design: Brass heart links with Kantha beads in warm tones, gemstone cluster drop.
-
Material: Recycled textile-wrapped wood beads, carnelian and tiger’s eye gemstones, lead- & nickel-free alloy.
-
Size: 21.5" with a 3" extender; drop length approx. 3".
-
Country of origin: India.
Handmade Disclaimer:
Due to its handmade and repurposed nature, each necklace has unique color variations and gemstone combinations.
design: Brass heart-shaped links alternate with small fabric-wrapped beads in a warm earthtone palette, cascading down to a clustered pendant of carnelian, tiger's eye, and Kantha-wrapped beads at the center front.
size: 21.5" length with a 3" extender; center drop approx. 3".
material: Recycled textile-wrapped wood beads, carnelian and tiger's eye gemstones, lead- and nickel-free brass/copper alloy.
features: Heart-link chain, hand-wrapped fabric bead accents, gemstone cluster pendant, lobster clasp with adjustable extender
care: Keep away from water, perfume, and lotion, and store flat in a soft pouch to protect the fabric-wrapped beads.
disclaimer: Because it's handmade from repurposed textiles, each necklace has its own color variation and gemstone combination.
The Story
This necklace is made in India, where cotton saris are often kept in circulation long after their first life as garments — worn or off-cut fabric is saved, sorted by color, and repurposed into new material rather than discarded. The small wrapped beads here are made this way: strips of recycled cotton wound tightly around a wood core, so no two beads show quite the same fleck of pattern or fade of color.
That habit of reworking cloth has deep roots in eastern India, most visibly in kantha, a running-stitch quilting tradition from West Bengal in which layers of old saris and dhotis are stitched together into blankets and wraps. This piece doesn't use kantha embroidery itself, but it draws on the same underlying practice — treating worn textile as a resource worth transforming rather than waste.
The heart-shaped brass links are a simpler, more universal form, giving the piece a clean architecture to carry the more irregular, handmade texture of the fabric beads and gemstone cluster.
Brass wire is shaped and closed into the small heart links, then hand-linked into a continuous chain. Strips of recycled cotton are wound around wood bead cores and set, a slow hand process that means each bead's color placement is a little different from the last. Carnelian and tiger's eye beads are strung and wired together into the cluster pendant, then the whole assembly — chain, fabric beads, and cluster — is joined by hand before the clasp and extender are attached.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: India
- Craft Tradition: Kantha textile beadwork
- Ideal For: Someone who likes color, texture, and a bit of unexpected shape in their jewelry
- Wear It With: Wear with a simple neckline in denim, linen, or solid earth tones and let the pendant cluster be the focal point
- Purpose: Everyday wear, gifting, statement layering
- Gemstone: Tiger's Eye, Carnelian
- Metal: Brass and copper alloy (lead- and nickel-free)
Carnelian is a warm orange-to-red variety of chalcedony, long valued in beadwork and carved seals for its glassy polish and range of fiery tones. Tiger's eye is a form of quartz with fine parallel fibers that catch the light in a silky, banded sheen of gold and brown — the same chatoyancy that gives the stone its name. Together they anchor the pendant cluster in the necklace's warm, earthy color story.
Questions & Answers
Is this necklace adjustable?
Yes. It measures 21.5" with a 3" extender chain, so you can wear it at your preferred length.
What are the small fabric beads made from?
They're wood beads hand-wrapped in strips of recycled cotton textile, which is why the color and pattern vary slightly from bead to bead.
Will the gemstone cluster look exactly like the photo?
Close, but not identical. Because the necklace is handmade from repurposed materials, the exact mix of carnelian, tiger's eye, and fabric beads in the cluster will vary slightly by piece.
Is the metal hypoallergenic?
The brass and copper alloy used is lead- and nickel-free.
How should I store and care for it?
Avoid water, perfume, and lotion contact, and store it flat so the fabric-wrapped beads keep their shape.
