Development of Nakshi Kantha Motifs through CAD and their Adaptation on Apparel using Digital Printing

Abstract

The word Kantha means patched clothes. Kantha evolved out of necessity to drape or protect against cold. Kantha in Sanskrit means rags. In that era, thread and cloth were not easily available to common people so women of Bengal started to use over used saris or dhotis by stitching them up. They used the strand of thread from the colorful border of the saris and started to make simple designs with them. An initiative has been taken for exploring the possibility of modification of traditional motifs of Nakshi Kantha. The concept behind the theme was to create new range of textile designs by maintaining the beauty and originality of traditional embroidery. Motifs suitable for use through textile ornamentation, present on the traditional samples were identified and collected through secondary data. The motifs derived from the traditional samples were then categorized and modified using CAD. Each design was adapted into three different layouts for women’s kurta. The most preferred design layout in each category was then digitally printed and the consumer’s acceptability of the printed product was evaluated.