..............to build better futures for the next generation.
Guest Blog by Laura Rana, Khushi Kantha
Becoming a parent is a big incentive to shift to a more sustainable lifestyle. Our children
will inherit the planet – and we want to pass it down to them in the best state possible.
Having lived in Bangladesh on and off for the past twelve years, I have been only too
conscious of the devastating impacts of climate change.
When I became pregnant with my half-British-half-Bangladeshi (and 100% cheeky!) twin
daughters, I eagerly started researching the world of cloth nappies and eco-friendly baby
products. I was thrilled to discover the kind, friendly sustainable parenting community. From the woman who gave me a cloth nappy demo session (back in the days when we were
allowed to interact with strangers in person), to the mother who sent me some free
inserts when she found out I was planning to ‘cloth-bum’ twins on a budget, and all the
incredible twin mamas who have passed down so many pre-loved gems, I could not
have felt more welcomed and supported. I want to harness the collaborative power of a global community of ethically-minded mothers to build better futures for the next generation.
The fabric of community
Inequality is ‘in your face’ everywhere you go in Bangladesh. Having spent over a
decade working in the international development and humanitarian sectors, with
organisations like the British Red Cross, Save the Children and War Child UK, I’ve seen
far too many children growing up in circumstances that no child should ever have to
experience.
I spent the first half of my pregnancy in the coastal town of Cox’s Bazar in South-East
Bangladesh. Once famous for having the longest stretch of unbroken coastline in the
world, it is now best-known for another reason: hosting more than 900,000 Rohingya
men, women and children who have fled across the border to escape human rights
atrocities in Myanmar. During the nine months I was based in Cox’s Bazar, working on
the humanitarian response to the crisis, I was struck by the generosity and compassion
of the Bangladeshi mothers from the communities hosting the refugees. Despite
struggling to provide the basics for their own families, they were offering everything they
could to support the Rohingya people.
Pregnancy is an emotional experience under any circumstances. The intensity of
emotion I felt whenever I considered the kind of life I would be able to give my
daughters, versus the struggles all the mothers around me were facing every single day,
was unlike anything I had ever felt before. I came home to London determined to do something to help the mothers I had witnessed doing everything they could to give their children the future they deserved.
But I didn’t know how.
The threads of an idea
When my daughters were born, they were gifted a stunning collection of kantha baby
blankets, lovingly handmade by their Bangladeshi family members.
According to Bengali tradition, mothers repurpose their old cotton saris into ultra-soft,
multi-layered blankets for their babies. The technique is known as kantha, which means
‘stitched cloth’, while the distinctive embroidery stitch that is applied over the top is
known as ‘kantha stitch.’
I was so touched by the kindness and generosity of my in-laws….but I wasn’t quite sure
how we were going to use so many blankets! However I soon learned that they could be
used for pretty much every item on my daily to-do list as a parent – from swaddling my
girls as tiny newborns, to lining the pram, Moses basket or sling, or functioning as a mini
playmat while out and about, or even a makeshift changing mat when one or even both
girls inevitably weed all over the one in our changing bag within minutes of leaving the
house!
Every time I walked down the street, I would get stopped by people admiring their vibrant
colours and eye-catching stitching. I realised that there could be a market for them….and this was how I could support other women whose position I could so easily be in if circumstances were different.
Stitched with strength, spirit and sustainability
I’ve spent the past year and a half pouring my time, energy and heart in turning my
social enterprise vision into a reality.
Khushi Kantha (which translates as ‘Happy Blanket’) creates opportunities for mothers in
Bangladesh to provide for their children with dignity, by partnering with them to make
one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose baby blankets, hand-stitched from reclaimed and ethically-
sourced cotton and embroidered with empowerment.
We are reworking the kantha technique to meet global hygiene and safety standards,
while retaining the principles of ‘reclaim-repurpose-reuse’ and bringing the cultural
heritage of Bangladesh to a wider audience. Our handmade blankets are crafted from
six layers of 100% cotton: the outside layers of a Khushi Kantha are made from
traditional handloom fabric, and we use deadstock cotton fabric from the Bangladeshi
garments industry for the inside layers.
‘Sustainability’ is a multi-dimensional concept, as reflected by the Sustainable
Development Goals, which cover 17 inextricably linked issues, like poverty, gender
equality, decent work and economic growth, and responsible consumption and
production. I am trying to consider all of these dimensions when making decisions both
as a social entrepreneur and a mother.
The fabric of community
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that we are all part of a global community. It
has also revitalised community spirit at the local level. I am officially operating as a ‘one-
woman band’, but I have been blown away by the amount of support I have received to
help me get Khushi Kantha off the ground, especially from fellow mothers who are
already operating successful ‘businesses for good’, like Jitna Bhagani of shakti.ism and
Camilla Sutton of the Basket Room.
And what simple steps can you take to support other mothers through your lifestyle
choices?
About the author
Laura is setting up Khushi Kantha (‘Happy Blanket’) in her 'spare time', alongside
her ‘day job’ helping organisations that inspire her to measure their impacts, and her
‘24/7 job’ as the mother of 18 month old half British, half Bangaleshi twin daughters Opi and Mahi.
You can find Laura via the following places:
IG/FB: @khushikantha
Twitter: @khushikantha1
Linkedin: company/khushi-kantha
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