Kubsa

Kubsa draws from indigenous craft traditions of north Karnataka that are a synthesis of the region’s vernacular and local customs. Traditionally a favored sartorial choice of women across north Karnataka and parts of south Maharashtra, Kubsa is a distinctive bodice, ’ravike’ (Kannada) or ‘choli’ stitched from hand-woven silk or cotton Khana fabric, and paired with Ilkal sarees – two heritage crafts of the region that are weaved into the identity of the community. Founded in 2020 by textile designer Geeta Patil, who hails from the region, Kubsa believes in the beauty of hand-woven processes and as a label is about story-telling, with a focus on heritage textile revival, empowerment of artisans and sustainable usage of materials. Rediscovering the many untold stories and legends that inspire its custodians - the artisans, have created Kubsa as a palimpsest of craft narrative through community history, memories and personal experiences. Kubsa, is our idea of design intervention to revive the region’s crafts and their core design characteristics and identity. Our textiles are reflective of our design language - derived from studying traditional hand-weaving techniques and crafted in contemporary aesthetics