Our work

Craft & Care

Every Sethu garment is made slowly by hand in India. We are very fortunate to work with some of the most talented artisans in the world, preserving and breathing new life into centuries-old traditions. At its core, Sethu is committed to re-centering production with the artisans and communities who have shaped these materials for generations.

Sourcing Map Materials Techniques Care

Fabrics

Eri Silk

Kamrup, Assam

Native to northeast India. Produced by wild silkworms allowed to emerge from their cocoons before harvest — the original 'peace silk.' A short staple fiber with a breathable, matte quality.

Heirloom Cotton

Melukote, Karnataka

Heritage varieties free of genetic modification — naturally colored in browns, greens, and ochres. Less intensive to grow, adapted to their native environment, requiring no dyeing.

Kala Cotton

Bhuj, Gujarat

A rain-fed cultivar indigenous to Kachchh, growing without pesticides or irrigation. India's history with kala cotton dates back nearly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley Civilization.

Khadi Cotton

Gondal, Gujarat

A handspun and handwoven cotton central to India's anti-colonial resistance movement, bringing textile manufacturing back from Britain. Known for its softness and breathability.

Kora Silk

Bannerghatta, Karnataka

Silk in its pure, raw state — with its sericin protein intact. Naturally hydrophilic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and UV-protective. Untreated and unfinished, exactly as it leaves the loom.

Kullu Wool

Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

From local sheep herds in the high-altitude Himalayan foothills. Thicker and heavier than other wools, with wonderful slubby irregularities that add character and warmth.

Linen

Bardoli, Gujarat

Derived from the flax plant — lightweight, breathable, naturally moisture-wicking. Its crisp handfeel softens beautifully over time, well-suited for warm climates and everyday wear.

Mulberry Silk

Kolkata, West Bengal

Produced by domesticated silkworms feeding exclusively on mulberry leaves. The prism structure of the fibers reflects light, giving the fabric its characteristic lustrous sheen.

Tussar Silk

Bhagalpur, Bihar

Wild silk produced by silkworms feeding on forest-grown trees. A slightly coarse handfeel and deep golden hue with a naturally slubbed appearance — no two lengths alike.

Fastenings

Sea Shell

Traceable to the Indus Valley Civilization. No two shells are alike — each button carries its own shape, thickness, and markings.

Mother of Pearl

Produced by mollusks, composed of calcium carbonate. Hand-carved for suiting and trousers. Each button carries its own perfect imperfections.

Bull Horn

A core of bone surrounded by smooth keratin. Rich in color, durable, and smooth — one of India's oldest button materials.

Wood

Hand-carved. Used selectively for garments where its warmth and texture complement the fabric.

Jute

Cultivated in east India and Bangladesh for thousands of years. Used to tie our hangtags to garments.

Handloom Weaving

Weaving

India's sartorial history has largely been shaped by the handloom. Prior to British colonization, Indian clothing focused on draping rather than tailoring — and without the concern of seam slippage from cutting and sewing, handloom techniques evolved to become incredibly complex and intricate. Almost all of our wovens are made the way they have been for millennia: on the loom, by hand. There is no breaking-in period for handwoven fabrics — they feel lived-in right off the loom.

Natural Dyeing

Colour

Plants, minerals, and organic matter have been used to dye textiles across India for millennia. Each source produces unique tones that interact differently with each fabric.

Indigo Once called "blue gold," one of the Silk Road's most valuable commodities. Yarns are dipped into fermented indigo pits, producing a rich blue that fades beautifully with time.

Pomegranate The tannin-rich rind imparts yellow to golden hues. Dual-dyed with indigo or iron rust, it produces peach, green, grey, and even black shades.

Harda Indian Gooseberry — both a dye (warm earth tones) and a mordant, helping other dyes bind to the fabric through its naturally high tannin content.

Marigold The flower most associated with Indian temples produces vibrant yellow and golden hues. Dual-dyed with indigo it creates a soft, warm sage green.

Iron Rust Imparts no colour alone, but darkens tannin-rich dyes. Used with Harda to produce a textured charcoal.

Tea Dried black tea leaves produce a gentle, nutty brown — warm, subtle, and quietly beautiful.

Hand Knitting

Knitting

Our sweaters are knit slowly and lovingly by hand over many weeks by a women-owned and operated collective of artisans in the Kullu valley. Each garment carries the time of its maker in every stitch.

Intarsia Yarns of different colors incorporated directly into the knitting process, allowing artisans to create images woven into the structure of the garment itself.

Kantha Embroidery

Embroidery

Originating in Bengal, Kantha stitching began as a way to repurpose used textiles by layering and adjoining them with visible running stitches. The exposed stitch is the point — nothing is hidden, everything is celebrated.

Block Printing

Printing

A hand-carved wooden block is dipped into dye and pressed onto fabric. Each impression is slightly different — a quality that distinguishes handmade from machine-made. We use block printing for our labels and tote bags.

Appliqué

Embellishment

Cut fabric is layered onto a base fabric and stitched down by hand to create shapes through contrast and juxtaposition. A technique that celebrates the seam rather than concealing it.

Part of what makes naturally dyed, handwoven garments extraordinary is that they develop over time. Sunlight deepens the patina of indigo. Wear softens handwoven cotton in ways machine-made fabric never could. Each mark, fade, and fold becomes part of the garment's story — and yours.

01 — Washing

Wash cold, by hand

Hand wash individually or with like colours in cold water with a pH-neutral detergent. Machine washing on a gentle cycle with like colours is also fine. Dry cleaning is always acceptable.

02 — Drying

Dry in the shade

Hang dry away from prolonged direct sunlight. Natural dyes do fade with sun exposure — slowly, unevenly, beautifully. Shade drying simply slows the process, giving you more control over how the garment evolves.

03 — Repairs

Mend, don't discard

When wear shows, take the garment to a local tailor. A visible mend is not a flaw — it's another layer of history. Every stitch adds a chapter to the garment's rich story.

These garments are made using techniques practiced for hundreds — if not thousands — of years, long before modern laundry machines and chemical detergents. A little more care returns a lot more life. Questions? Reach out to us.