WorldFinds was founded to create social impact in artisan communities, while being kind to the earth. Our mission is to uplift artisans by creating dignified work, meaningful opportunities and long term partnerships. From the repurposed textiles to the handcrafted, small batch production methods used by our artisans all the way to the packing materials we use to ship your order, we strive for sustainability every step of the way. This journey has been one of progress, not perfection! We are always striving for ways to continue to be more eco-friendly.
Kantha + Sari Jewelry: How It's Made
Kantha quilts are a traditional textile found in abundance in India. They are made from layers of worn cotton saris, sewn together with a distinctive, allover running stitch. Artisans transform the fabric scraps into beads for jewelry, which provides new life to a textile that is often discarded.
Step 1: Each Kantha bead has a base made of wood, carved out of scraps gathered from a local furniture factory. We, and the artisans, love sustainable sourcing!
Step 2: Artisans then hand cover each wooden bead with a colorful piece of Kantha fabric, attaching them securely with a safe adhesive. Excess fabric is trimmed off, and the bead is complete.
Step 3: Once a number of beads have been crafted, they are strung together into a necklace, wrapped with wire and added into a cuff bracelet, or transformed into an earring, often incorporating modern elements like metallic paillettes, brass metal accent beads, or mixed-metal seed beads. Artisans assort the beads so the final piece of jewelry has a unique array of colors and patterns. The result is a Kantha design as unique as the artisan that crafted it!
steps to sustainability
Artisans use discarded wood scraps from local furniture factories for our bead bases. |
Discarded Sari and Kantha textiles are repurposed into our jewelry and accessories. |
Our artisans make everything by hand, in small workshops or their homes. |
Product is transported via sea freight, or as cargo on flights already scheduled. |
Our shipping boxes and packing materials are compostable and made from recycled materials. |