MIRTH Napkin (set of 4)

Size 9"x9"
100% kora (unprocessed and unbleached) cotton
Hand block printed
Low-impact dyes
Machine wash cold, delicate cycle. Tumble dry low
Crafted by a displaced community from Northern India
Set of 4  

Disclaimer: Due to the handmade nature of our products and variations of device screens, you may find slight variations in color and/or craftsmanship. Even if from the same dye lot, slight variations in color may occur. This is not a defect, but a unique feature of handmade goods.

Description

Make entertaining guests an indulgence with Sustainable Threads' stunning hand block printed, heavyweight cotton napkins! Highly absorbent, they are a great alternative to disposable paper napkins. Packaged with a belly band and a hanger, they make an excellent party favor, back-to-school and host or hostess gift.

A graceful print design in 4 complementary colors combine to form this unique set.

Kind and caring to the environment, hand block printing is a labor-intensive process that involves carving designs on individual wooden blocks, to which dye is applied and stamped on to fabric. Numerous careful impressions are required to complete a single finished product.  

Co-ordinated runner (Starlight) and tablecloth (Opal Garden) are available to purchase separately.

A Fair Trade product. Handmade by artisans in India.  

How It's Made 

Artisans apply block print patterns to natural, kora cotton - this is unbleached fabric, and is the purest form of cotton. To start printing, an artisan evenly applies dye to a hand-carved wooden block. The fabric is then hand-stamped firmly and steadily, leaving a printed pattern. Dye is frequently added to maintain the same intensity of color. Once the printing is finished with a specific color and block, the artisan cleans the block and must wait for the cloth to dry before continuing. This is a deceptively simple art - each piece features dozens, if not hundreds, of careful impressions. 
The artisan community suffered forced displacement in the late eighties, losing their ancestral homes and farmlands in the process. This work offers a sustainable source of fair income and an off-farm livelihood.