Kauna: Threads of Tradition
Rooted in the wetlands of Manipur, Kauna grass grows quietly alongside paddy, nurtured by rain and the rhythm of the land. Once considered a simple utility, its presence in rural homes has long reflected a life lived close to nature—where form, function, and familiarity coexist in quiet harmony. Today, this soft, spongy reed continues to weave its way through time, shaped by the hands of craftspeople who carry forward both heritage and innovation.
The grass is harvested tall, dried with care under the sun, and left unprocessed or dyed naturally depending on the weaver’s vision. It bends without breaking, allowing sculptural forms to emerge—mats, baskets, hampers, hats—each made without haste. Moulds crafted by local carpenters guide the silhouette of contemporary designs, while fingers, thumbs, and sometimes toes pull every strand into place, firm yet forgiving.
Kauna’s craft is one of collaboration. Women gather in courtyards and verandas, weaving as they speak, watch over children, and share tea. Men bring moulds, train in techniques, and assist in flow. In this way, each product becomes more than just a container—it is the outcome of community, of inherited patience, of knowledge shaped in daily repetition.
As interest in slow craft deepens, this quiet craft has entered new conversations. Markets beyond the hills bring requests for handles, linings, finishes, for forms that hold not just vegetables and rice, but stories of the handmade.
What began as a modest act of necessity now rests in curated corners of homes across cities, carried by travellers who seek both beauty and meaning. Every purchase reaches back to a home in Manipur—to a weaver, a farmer, a family—quietly sustaining the cycle of land, labor, and life.
Beyond… honours this soft power. Not loud, not rushed. Just real, rooted, and ready to find meaning in new hands.
