• Made in India
• Crafted by physically challenged artisans from Northern India
• 100% kora (unprocessed and unbleached) cotton, low-impact dyes
• Hand block printed
• Size: 60"x90"
• Care: Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.
• Due to the handmade nature of this product, slight variation in color and craftsmanship can be expected  

This item is from Sustainable Threads, a fair trade, eco-conscious company dedicated to promoting handmade lifestyle products made through close collaboration with artisan partners in India. By blending traditional art techniques with modern design, they create stunning collections crafted exclusively from natural fibers. Each product is meticulously handmade by an artisan group, often in home settings or small workshops, using tools and methods that require minimal or no electricity. 

Sustainable Threads collaborates with the Physically Disabled Artisan Initiative, a nonprofit artisan group, to create beautiful block-printed napkins and tablecloths. Based in South India, this nonprofit organization employs individuals with physical disabilities. Established in the mid-1970s, the Physically Disabled Artisan Initiative aims to combat the social stigma and economic disadvantages faced by these individuals. Through handicraft training, rehabilitation, and long-term stable jobs, the initiative aims to provide artisans with tools to gain financial independence, social acceptance, and reintegration into their families and communities.

The initiative currently employs 85 artisans, with 60% working from home. To facilitate this, raw materials are delivered to their homes, and finished products are collected. The artisans receive a living wage, medical care, access to interest-free housing loans, maternity leave, and subsidized meals. They undergo three to six months of training tailored to their preferred craft, such as block printing. 

Hand block printing is a labor-intensive art that requires both skill and precision. The process begins by carving a design onto a wooden block, which then serves as a stamp. This stamp is applied to the fabric by hand multiple times, sometimes even hundreds, to create the desired pattern. Each layer of color requires its own stamp, therefore items featuring multiple colors require numerous overlapping stamps to complete the finished product.