At Metaphor Racha, we believe in bridging the gap between rural craftsmanship and contemporary living. Our collection of hand-quilted quilts and bedspreads is more than just functional bedding; it is a soulful celebration of Kowdhi, the traditional quilt of North Karnataka.
Each Kowdhi quilt is hand-stitched by women from Dambal, a small village known for its enduring commitment to sustainable craftsmanship. These women carry generations of tradition, resourcefulness, and an innate sense of artistry. Their work isn't just about making quilts—it's about preserving a way of life.
A Quilt of Generations: The Story of Kowdhi
The tradition of Kowdhi quilting has been passed down through families in Dambal. For generations, women have collected worn-out sarees and clothes—often by walking through nearby cities, collecting discarded textiles from homes—and transformed them into functional, beautiful quilts.
What's more inspiring is the cycle of return: the textiles are stitched into quilts and often sent back to the same households they came from. This practice forms a closed-loop reuse system deeply rooted in community values and environmental consciousness.
Sustainability is Tradition
When we began collaborating with the Dambal women, we knew our partnership had to align with their ethics. At Metaphor Racha, we share their belief that fabric should always be purposefully cut. We now provide them with our leftover sarees, textile remnants, and excess fabric collected from garment factories.
In earlier times, fabric was cut using a sickle—an imprecise tool that led to a lot of waste. Thanks to thoughtful intervention, scissors, every cloth is carefully measured and used, reducing waste and tangibly supporting sustainable craft.
Local Threads, Local Lives
The threads used in Kowdhi quilts come from local street hawkers who collect excess yarn from nearby handloom weavers' cooperative clusters. By supporting these hawkers, the artisans uplift their own ecosystem, strengthening the local economy while staying true to their roots.
Cubit to Inch: A Heritage of Hands
You'll notice that our quilts are listed in inches instead of cot sizes. That's because Dambal women use a traditional unit of measurement—the cubit—the length from elbow to fingertip. This ancient method reflects their work's tactile, intimate nature and adds character to every Kowdhi quilt.
Why Choose a Kowdhi Quilt?
In a world overrun with fast fashion and factory-made homewares, a Kowdhi quilt stands apart. Each piece is:
- 🌿 Sustainable – Made using upcycled fabric and local yarn
- 🧵 Handmade – Crafted stitch by stitch by rural women artisans
- 🧶 Unique – Every quilt carries its history and texture
- 🏡 Meaningful – Brings stories of women, resilience, and tradition into your home
It's not just bedding—it's heritage made tangible.
Be Part of the Story
By bringing home a hand-quilted Kowdhi from Metaphor Racha, you're embracing warmth and comfort and supporting a deep-rooted tradition of sustainable craftsmanship. These quilts are physical testaments to women's artistry, cultural continuity, and eco-conscious living.
Let your home speak of mindful choices. Let it tell the story of Dambal. Shop here.
