Originating in Bangladesh, kantha embroidery is a beautiful and meditative craft which upcycles old cloth and materials into elaborate embroidered pieces. Join us for this one-day exhibition featuring embroidered panels in various kantha styles, created during weekly workshops with participants from the local St Margaret's House community.
Each panel holds meaningful stories for the participants who created them, working on different elements of the panel each week to create these beautifully worked pieces. This workshop series was created and facilitated by Shama Kan.
Come along to the Chapel and enjoy this wonderful group exhibition by our local community!
About Shama:
Shama Kun is a British Bangladeshi sustainable fashion and textile designer, committed to honoring heritage while reimagining the future of clothing. Their work is deeply inspired by Bangladesh’s rich craft traditions, including kantha embroidery, Nakshi kantha, handloom textiles, and natural dyeing.
The core to Shama’s practice is the upcycling of pre-loved textiles — transforming unwanted saris, lungi, blanket and discarded materials into new, meaningful creations. Each piece becomes a dialogue between sustainability, memory, and artistry.
Currently, Shama is leading various community craft workshop, working directly with rural artisans, women-led groups, and young creatives to revive traditional skills, share knowledge, and co-create sustainable fashion. This initiative not only fosters cultural preservation but also empowers local communities through economic opportunity and creative expression.
Through their design work, education initiatives, and grassroots collaborations, Shama continues to build a bridge between the past and the future — proving that fashion can be both beautiful and deeply responsible.
Venue: The Chapel, 21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL
Access: We are working to make our Grade II listed building more accessible but it will take some time. If you require access support (including our portable ramps), please get in touch via emily@stmargaretshouse.org.uk
Date: Friday 25th July
Times: 1-5pm