Kantha are bags, wraps, shawls and bed covers made from layers of cloth recovered from worn-out clothing. They are quilted with a running stitch and embroidered with coloured threads pulled from discarded saris.

Young women of Bengal and Bihar in eastern India create very personal designs including flowers, birds, ritual objects, domestic possessions and scenes from popular culture. The superimposition of personal images on cloth worn by family members gives these extraordinary works of art a protective aura.