Whimsical, Warm and Wonderful: Dressing for Comfort

Camp Goldston Publishing, LLC
3 days ago
2 min read

...and no one does it better than Janice Bell-Ball (JB). I've never seen JB without her style completely impressing me. She accessorizes in a uniquely creative way, often acquiring many of her pieces from thrift stores.

And then there's Kantha!

I discovered Kantha only a few years ago, but I was captivated instantly. There is something deeply compelling about the craft: each piece is hand-stitched, often using vintage sari fabrics that might otherwise have been discarded, giving beautiful, timeworn textiles a new life.

Perhaps my connection to Kantha also comes from the way I grew up. I was surrounded by beautiful clothes and wonderfully spoiled by a mother who was an exceptional dressmaker. She made much of what I wore, and from an early age I became fascinated by fabric, texture, colour and pattern. Clothes were never simply something to wear; they were a way of expressing who I was.

As I grew older, I often found myself searching for something a little different, something with character, when the high street offered little that felt truly unique. I loved creating my own style, choosing pieces for their individuality rather than following what was simply in fashion.

Discovering Kantha has brought me back to that feeling. The unexpected combinations of colour, the layers of pattern, the softness of fabrics that have already lived another life, and the knowledge that every piece has been carefully stitched by hand all speak to me.

Kantha has given me a new way to celebrate colour, pattern and individuality, while honouring the beauty of textiles that deserve to be treasured rather than forgotten. In many ways, it feels like coming full circle: back to the fabrics, creativity and sense of personal style that first captured my imagination as a child.

Ann Marie Pauk

Nothing compares to the comfort of a jumpsuit. I invited Ann Marie Pauk to feature a bit of her Kantha Bae collection on our pages, particularly her jumpsuits!