The Kantha Store by Farah Khan, is welcoming winter in the city with the launch of its shawl collection. Featuring vibrant shades, the collection made of Merino wool, pashmina and cashmere highlights aari embroidery and of course, kantha.
“I specialise in all kinds of embroidery and started my career with sozni and aari embroidery of Kashmir. My husband was in the army and I learnt the craft of embroidery while my husband was fighting in the Kargil war. I was with my two little babies. I stayed there and I learnt everything about textiles as well. I learnt the nuances of embroidery and about the life of people who are into embroidery. Then I started helping artisans in different ways. I started my first company called Farah Shawls and as beginner’s luck would have it, I got to do my first exhibition in Atlanta. It was a breakthrough and after that there was no looking back,” said Farah Khan, owner, The Kantha Store.
Her experiment with shawls made her realise that “finishing” made all the difference. “In 2004, I started my label after shifting to Santiniketan with my husband. I made a comparison between Kashmiri artisans and the Bengali artisans to find out what was lacking. The main difference was the finishing. Shawls in Kashmir had a fine finishing. So, I worked on the quality and designs and then I started my store. Now that I opened my store in Calcutta, a lot of people who knew me wanted the shawl collection. So, this winter I chose to introduce my aari shawls which was once upon a time my great love and was overtaken by kantha,” said Farah. Her shawls are replete with her travel tales.
Gargee RoyChowdhury dropped by for the launch. “Farah has a soft and genuine heart for Bengal. That love translates into her work. I must mention Farah has an impeccable sense of colour combination. All her shawls are vibrant, handmade and the stitches, simple yet unique,” she said.Does she have a special shawl? “I have a shawl presented by my husband, it is a very old one and it has a very unique and antique design. I will cherish that shawl. It is very special to me. Especially, for the design and the person who has given it to me,” she smiled.
Kantha shawls with pashmina lining and aari embroidery on Merino wool, formed a beautiful display. “My focus is on kantha and aari shawls. The kantha shawls have a lining of pashminas inside and tussore on top. It is a fusion of Bengal art and Kashmiri art,” said Farah.
Gargee RoyChowdhury tried an aari shawl — with rose motifs on Merino wool — with her LBD.
Gargee checked out a purple shawl with single thread aari embroidery, teamed with complementary white thread.
These shawls made in vibrant shades, featuring the intricate sozni embroidery on wool, were eyecatchers.
The black shawls featured intricate floral and bird embroidery done in aari, depicting the regal motifs of earlier eras. “I made this very elaborate, perfect as festive or occasionwear,” said Farah.