Who would have known that a city so simple can be the manufacturer behind fashion bloggers all time favorite Christian Louboutins heels? Well, no one’s trying to take your case here, because this is the actual truth. All the people who are going gaga over the famous shoe brand Christian Louboutins should deal with the surprising fact that a Chennai’s firm of embroidery makes world’s most coveted heels. It’s not Italian; it’s not French, its plain Indian.
Basically the well known French haute couture embroiderer François Lesage’s son, Jean-Francois Lesage, and his team have been bracing embroidery at Chennai’s Vastrakala. The place has existed since 1993 and has added style to the fashion world even before its connection with Christian Louboutins. Designers like Peter Marino, Robert Couturier, Jacques Grange, and Alberto Pinto have also found an extra edge to the fashion sense by this place in Chennai. Vastrakala was set up by Jean-Francois Lesage, Patrick Savouret and Malavika Shivakumar.
Jean-Francois when asked about this strange connection of fashion and a subtle Indian city, he said “I was once in Banaras. There was a blackout in the whole city and only one shop had electricity. Here, an embroiderer was sitting bent over his work under a single electric bulb. I discovered that the technique and material (used in India) was the same. The chain stitch, for example, is common to both. The only difference between Indian and French embroidery was in ornament and design. You see, embroidery travelled all along the Silk Route.”
“Indian craftsmen are never rewarded enough for their efforts, because of which most of them are moving to professions which provide a more steady income. You have to be very courageous to be a craftsman in India today.”
It is always good to know that some one or the other is cherishing what all india is capable of. Plus when an outsider makes the world realize it, its becomes more believable.
