Toda Napkin set

This set of six napkins carries the living tradition of the Toda community, an indigenous pastoral community native to the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu. For generations, Toda women have practised a distinctive form of hand embroidery, recognised for its bold geometric motifs and meticulous needlework.

Traditionally worked using a counted-thread technique, Toda embroidery is done entirely by hand, without tracing patterns on the fabric. The motifs emerge through rhythm, memory, and skill passed down within families, making every embroidered piece slightly different and deeply personal. What appears simple on the surface carries hours of careful labour and cultural knowledge.

In this napkin set, the embroidery is kept minimal and intentional, allowing the craft to remain central without overwhelming everyday use. The fringed edges are left natural, echoing the unprocessed, functional origins of the textile.

Designed to be used rather than displayed away, these napkins bring a quiet presence of craft to the table connecting daily rituals of eating and sharing with a tradition rooted in land, community, and continuity.

Dimensions: 10.5*10.5cm