Two strands of Kantha bead clusters slightly overlap, creating an incredible multi-layer swathe of beaded fringe. By offering artisans dignified work with fair wages and safe working conditions, this jewelry craft creates a lasting change in their lives.
- Hand-carved wooded beads made from wood furniture scaps
- Repurposed cotton textiles
- Lightweight, yet bold and sturdy
- Measures approximately 17" in length plus a 3" extender
- Uses metal wires to create necklace links
- Each is unique, color and patterns vary
- Sustainably handmade by women artisans in India
Beauty isn't perfect, it's authentic. This piece is artistically created by hand where beauty and imperfections go together wonderfully. Please accept and appreciate minor imperfections and variations which are true characteristics of this craft.
design: A layered bib necklace where two strands of fabric-wrapped bead clusters slightly overlap, building a dense, multicolored swathe of beaded fringe that fans out from a slim gold-tone chain.
size: Approximately 17" in length plus a 3" extender chain.
material: Hand-carved wood beads (from reclaimed furniture scraps) wrapped in repurposed cotton kantha textile, strung and linked with metal wire and a gold-tone chain.
features: Two-strand overlapping fringe design, lightweight despite its bold bib silhouette, mixed prints and colors on every bead, adjustable extender chain, made from repurposed materials
care: Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth and lay flat or hang to store so the fringe doesn't tangle, keeping it away from water, perfume, and prolonged direct sun.
disclaimer: Because each bead is individually wrapped in reclaimed cotton textile, the colors, prints, and placement on your necklace will vary from the photo and from piece to piece.
The Story
The beads on this necklace are wrapped in kantha cloth: layers of cotton fabric joined with the simple running stitch that gives kantha its name. The technique developed in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, where women traditionally saved worn saris and dhotis rather than discard them, stitching the layers into fresh cloth for quilts, wraps, and covers passed through a household.
What makes each bead here distinct is exactly that history: no two strips of kantha cloth carry the same print or palette, because the fabric began as someone else's sari or cotton yardage before it was cut, layered, and stitched anew. The jumble of florals, stripes, and solid tones fanned across the bib is the visible record of that reuse, not a printed pattern designed to look that way.
Mounting the cloth over hand-carved wood cores and clustering dozens of beads into a fringe is a newer application of the material, built for the movement and weight of jewelry rather than the flat surface of a quilt, but it keeps kantha's core idea intact: the fabric's past life isn't hidden, it's the piece's main appeal.
Each bead starts as a small offcut of wood, hand-carved round or oval, then wrapped and stitched over in scraps of repurposed cotton textile so the grain disappears under cloth. Once wrapped, the beads are wired individually and clustered by hand, strand by strand, into the layered fringe, a slow, additive process since every one of the dozens of beads on a single necklace is placed and secured on its own. The work is done by women artisans in India as part of a fair-trade production model that pays for the time this hand-assembly takes.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: India
- Craft Tradition: Kantha textile wrapping
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a colorful, conversation-starting statement necklace with a handmade story behind it
- Wear It With: Let it be the focal point over a solid-color top or dress, keeping other jewelry minimal
- Purpose: Everyday statement wear, dressing up a plain outfit, gifting
- Metal: Metal wire links and gold-tone chain
Questions & Answers
What is kantha fabric, and why does every necklace look a little different?
Kantha is a running-stitch textile technique from the Bengal region of India, traditionally used to layer and repurpose worn cotton cloth. Because each bead is wrapped in a small cut of that reused fabric, the prints and colors are never identical from piece to piece.
What are the beads made of?
Each bead has a hand-carved wood core, made from wood furniture scraps, wrapped in repurposed cotton kantha textile.
How long is the necklace, and can I adjust the fit?
It measures approximately 17 inches with a 3-inch extender chain, so you can adjust it slightly longer or wear it closer to the neckline.
Is it heavy to wear given how full the fringe looks?
No. The wood bead cores keep it lightweight even though the layered, multi-strand fringe reads as a bold statement piece.
How do I take care of it?
Wipe it gently with a soft, dry cloth, store it flat or hanging to avoid tangling the fringe, and keep it away from water, perfume, and direct sun.