Organic Cotton
One of the core beliefs of Tabitha Living is that we have a responsibility to care for our planet and the majority of our products are therefore made in 100% organic cotton.
Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment.
Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilisers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.
Our organic cotton fabrics have been produced by a GOTS certified weaver, this means only approved methods and materials have been used throughout production.
Handloom
Weaving is an ancient craft that dates back through all cultures for thousands of years. India has a heritage of handloom weaving that is unique and the largest in the world. A ‘handloom’ is a loom that is used to weave cloth without the use of any electricity and handlooms are carbon neutral. The handloom experience (soft, comfortable, and durable) is due to the human handling of the yarn in the weaving process, the yarn and the fabric are much less stressed and damaged.
Handwoven cotton is known for its breathability. It allows more air to penetrate the fabric making it cooler, softer and more absorbent. It keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Banana Leaf
Basket making begins with selecting the appropriate banana leaves according to length and quality.
They are manually cut, cleaned, dried and soaked in order to be soft and flexible, making the weaving process more efficient by being more pliable.
Banana leaf basketry is particularly eco-friendly; it uses banana leaves that would otherwise be burnt after the harvesting season.
Running Stitch
The running stitch or kantha stitch is the basic stitch in hand-sewing and embroidery, on which all other forms of sewing are based.
The stitch is worked by passing the needle in and out of the fabric. Kantha is one of the oldest forms of embroidery that originated in India, it means ‘rags’ in Sanskrit and is one of the oldest forms of up-cycling.
Women in Bengal typically use old saris and cloth and layer them with kantha, to make a light blanket, throw, or bead spread, especially for children.
Hem Stitch
Hemstitching is a form of needlework traditionally used to create decorative hems. To create the look, individual threads are pulled out from the fabric along the warp or the weft, leaving small gaps in the fabric. The remaining threads that transverse these gaps are embroidered by hand with needle and thread, to create a decorative pattern. Because hemstitching involves removing threads from fabric, it falls under a category of needlework knows as drawn threadwork.
The tiny holes and subtle tone-on-tone embroidery looks incredibly intricate and is time consuming to create. In the late 19th century, the first hemstitching machine was produced, allowing manufacturers to produce a hemstitched look quickly and efficiently. However, the Tabitha Living range of hemstitched products is made using the traditional method of drawing each individual thread by hand.