Kantha’s origin can be traced back to the households of rural women in undivided Bengal. It began as a medium to make quilts, spreads and covers for new born babies. Old sarees were layered and binded together using running stitches from threads taken out from the saree itself. Once the base was binded, stories related to personal events, folklores, and religious tales were embroidered on top. It is a women’s art, a domestic skill that developed over time. The skill was handed down from mothers to daughetrs.

The repetitive ‘kantha stitch’ gave the appearance of ripples on the entire surface of the fabric. There was a difference between the motifs created by women belonging to different communities. On one hand, Muslim women created floral and geometric patterns whereas Hindu women created flower centric designs surrounded by everyday life. It was a medium for women’s expression. Earlier, the embroidery was practiced only for personal use. In early 20th century, the craft began to decline, when mill made textiles came into existence. But now the craft is made for the commercial space.