Textile Swatches

CHANEL Paris-Bombay Pre Fall 2012

'The mix of English chic with Indian influence is something very elegant', Karl Lagerfeld when explaining the idea behind his Paris-Bombay Metiers d'Art 2011/12 shown earlier this week at the Grand Palais in Paris.

The Metiers d'Art show is Chanel's annual show that is a tribute to the gifted craftspeople that produce the amazing workmanship apparent in Chanel products. In 1997 Chanel acquired 7 craft workshops or ateliers including- Maison Desrues (buttonmakers), Maison Lemarie (feathers and plumage), Lesage (embroidery), Massaro (couture shoemaker), MaisonMichel (hatmakers), Goossens (jewellers) and Guillet (floral presentations).

The collection exemplified the elegance and savoir faire of Parisian fashion and Chanel's ateliers combined with the rich, artisanal works of India. Combinations of classic Chanel tweed jackets with Nehru collars with raw silk tunics; metallic evening gowns cut to look like saris and Parisian tailoring all heavily decorated with intricate embroidery. The collection displayed true qualities of design and craftsmanship.

Here's a short video of the atelier of embroidery Lesage and button-maker Desrues working on the Paris-Bombay collection.

 

The Insider's Outsider - The intelligent, artistic fashion of Dries Van Noten

Since my days at F.I.T., I've admired the simplicity and cleverness of the fashion of Dries Van Noten. Reading this article in WSJ I realize that his fashion and aesthetic is very reflective of his philosophy relating to fashion and design. He is a purist, resisting being too commercial and in his words,"Personally I think there is too much fashion in the world." While reading the article, I realized that I share his beliefs in many ways.

When starting my fabric company, I had a similar thought there is too much textile in the world and I need to have a reason for bringing another product line of 'stuff' to the market. My underlying mission and 'raison d'etre' is to support artisans and crafts and through my work and to create new viewpoints and markets for crafts.

Urban Studio at Le Mill

Download Urban Studio

We will be at Le Mill in Mumbai next week. On December 8,9.10 and 11, 2011. 

This will be the launch of the availability of our Fabric-by-the-Yard at Le Mill.

If in Mumbai, stop by and say hello!

Le Mill

Nandlal Jani Road, Off P Dmello Road

Next to Wadi Bunder Railway Bridge

T. 022.2374 2415

 

In India

The business is growing, we've had such a wonderful response to our textiles. I feel I need to spend more time expanding my production base. My favorite part of the process is working with the craftspeople and being inspired by the amazing creativity and magic in their hands...

So here I am- on a sabbatical in Bangalore... very exciting!!! It's been 10 years since I lived here. Since I had my weaving studio and was in daily contact with looms and weavers. 

There have been plenty of visits, but it's nice to have the feeling of 'being back home'. 

Check back in for images and visuals from our trip- what inspires us and new designs in process.

 

Bombay (and India) is in Bliss!

 

Following India's World Cup Cricket win on April 2nd, 2011- there has been much rejoicing and excitement all around India and especially the city of Mumbai- where the final was played. The last time the Indian team won was in 1983- I was in school in Bombay at the time!

Here is some video footage and images that capture the feelings and joy that was experienced all around the country.

 

 

To view our Bombay Bliss collection check out our site http://www.seemakrish.com

 

Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave

I'm so inspired by the show I saw last Saturday at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. My friend and mentor, Yoshiko Wada, took me to see the terrific and inspiring exhibit, 'Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave'

Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave is a painter by training, who for more than fifteen years, has created an astonishing and original body of work. After a visit to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the mid 90s, she was inspired to experiment with fashion design through the medium of paper. 

Painting and manipulating paper, she forms trompe l'oeil masterpieces of elaborate historical dresses. Her work spans 300 years of fashion history from Elizabeth I to Coco Chanel- encompassing the worlds of Mariano Fortuny and 19th c. Venice, the Medici costumes from the Renaissance, gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, and even kaftans of ikat and suzani patterns.

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The exhibit will run till June 5th, 2011 at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco