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September 12th, 2014

9/12/2014

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What I can't live without - A Madame Hall Signature Skirt....!
Madame Hall Signature Skirts are my best selling skirt…  Why?

A long, full skirt…..It’s a style that’s a fashion perennial! The current popularity of Boho style has brought  volumionus gypsy skirts once again to the fashion fore. A sexy full skirt flatters and accentuates your femininity, bringing with it compliments and admiration as is being discovered by a new generation of fashionistas.

I’m a ‘mature’ woman that has always loved a full skirt, whatever the current fashion. They suit my body type, which although small, tends towards being ‘curvy’ rather straight. I believe this is the reason my Signature Skirts are so popular; they look great on curvy big women as well as small ones!

In fact my most popular size is ‘large’ in the skirt that consistently brings me rave reviews and many repeat customers. 
Heres what some of them have to say-

I wore both of your skirts over the weekend, one to a party, and all the ladies commented on your beautiful skirt and then yesterday to breakfast with friends and now the men are starting to comment.
Thankyou again for what you do so perfectly



My (skirts) maiden voyage and it was a day to remember. I got compliments all day long with women stopping me to ask where I got my beautiful skirt. Several women went down memory lane and shared their stories of wearing crinolines under their full skirts --- it was so amazing! I also felt so pretty and feminine all day----it truly makes a day out in the skirt an experience to remember! 


I am now the proud owner of two, and have received some many compliments.
Walking into a restaurant the other day, my husband bought my attention to a table of women
who had stopped talking and eating to look at your beautiful Pink skirt.



Your choice of fabric will determine its adaptability. As well as offering a great range of skirts in patterned and plain fabric, I make to order, so you can decide the length you want. If you’re a tall woman who likes a long skirt to her ankles, or a short woman who’s tired of having everything altered. I can make you a skirt in whatever length you want, saving you an expensive alteration……… We all know what the hem on a big skirt can cost!

I can get a great range of cottons in any colour you like. All you need to do is tell me what you want, either via my contact page or thru the ‘convo’ system in my Etsy shop, and in a week or 2, I’ll have your perfect skirt ready to send.

If you’ve just discovered my site and you are not familiar with my ‘Signature Skirt’ here are the details so you’ll know exactly what you’ll be getting.

-Each skirt consists of 84 tapering panels. The cut of each panel is designed, so as to achieve a most wonderful rippling effect. So when you are walking and the skirt is in motion you’ll look absolutely divine. You’ll get the most compliments from strangers as you’re walking down the street!

-Because the panels are tapered, the skirt is very full at the hem, over 8 meters, but much narrower at the waist. This is especially good for larger ladies who like a slim fit thru the waist, but still want to wear the latest 'look'

-Each skirt has a wide elastic waistband, which means it can be worn on the waist or high hip. It’s also great if your weight fluctuates. Small is for waist 28 inches, Medium for 30 inches and Large is for 32 inches. Just let me know if you need a different size, Can do!

- The hem is finished with a contrasting piping and border. This is a quality finish that adds a little weight to the hem making your skirt hang and move beautifully, with swing and ‘bounce’ with every step.

-Lastly, every single seam, all 84 of them are covered or French seamed. Not serged or overlocked!

Madame Hall Signature Skirts walk out the door at my 6 monthly Pop-Ups in Australia, but are available only online, bought directly from me.

I’m crazy about maintaining the highest standard, and they are not factory made. Obviously they are labour intensive, so my small team and I carefully make each and every skirt with exacting precision

Buy Madame Hall Signature Skirts only from Madame Hall on Etsy, and while you are there, why not check out the rest of my range of unique, one-off afordable clothing.

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When you walk, my Signature Skirts move beautifully! You'll probably get surprise complements from complete strangers as you walk down the street
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Signature Skirts look great anytime, any place....Even after some rough and tumble with your dog!
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How to Wear a Rabari Jacket

6/19/2014

4 Comments

 
PictureThis Rabari Jacket has been altered to fit, and is almost ready to be dyed.
If you've been to Kutch you can't have missed seeing the local Rabari men getting about in their distinctive white embroidered jackets. Their tribal jackets have instant appeal to forigeners due to the high waisted style that's currently often copied and oh so fashionable. 
The recent Bollywood movie, Ram Leela has also popularised the style. The romantic story featured spectacular Rabari dance sequences  that were filmed close to Bhuj, capturing the sureal natural beauty of the huge salt desert, The Great Rann of Kutch.
As Bhuj's local 'foriegner' shopping daily for Kutch's unique Indian handicrafts, I contstantly see young ladies, visitors here trying these jackets on in the vintage clothing shops, only to instantly take them off again! Not only are these jackets frequently very small, but the armhole , shoulder  and narrow sleeves are intolerably uncomfortable! Because they are covered in hand embroidery, the complexity of altering them to fit is rarely considered. And mostly they are stained too....We're talking vintage tribal jackets here, from white cotton, in dusty Kutch, so of course, they are often not very clean! 
I love a challenge! And after working at The Emergency Button in Sydney some years ago, I am good at devising alterations that don't compromise a great design.
I spent months, with Rabari Jackets, (or 'Kediya' as is the correct term) on my mind....thinking about how to solve their 'fit problem'  Some folks put a big gussett under the arm, but it's not the soloution as the shoulder still doesn't fit, and all you get is a 'bumpfy' underarm....it's not a good look!
So now...I have developed a formula....It involves several alterations in fact, but completely fixes all the wearability issues of these stunning hand embroidered jackets, meaning western fashionists's like you and me can now wear them easily!
I love Rabari Kediya because each is so different! Different embroidery depending on the community the man that it was originaly made for came from; some have a simple design of embroidered squares, others are very complex with mirror work and gold embelishments....I sometimes even find them with the 'owners' name embroidered on them too, which I love!
They look great worn layered over jeans, cut off shorts, a dress or with a slim skirt.....after altering, I usually dye them to give a quality, unified finish.
Check out my 'shop' for my improved Rabari Jackets, or request one to suit in your choice of size and colour. You'll get an amazing jacket with a story to tell! A Jacket thats completely unique, a 'one off' from a romantic culture of nomads, the exotic, mysterious wandering Rabari of Kutch.







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A Rabari man I photographed just outside of Bhuj. Same great jacket shape, but without embroidery.
4 Comments

Buy Vintage Indian Jewellery - Little Known Facts About Kutch Tribal Silver

5/9/2014

104 Comments

 
PictureVintage silver neckpiece would look great on a simple black ribbon
Adorn! Buying vintage Indian jewellery was my first passion when I began visiting Kutch.
Tribal silver, made by the Rabari was my favourite, and I spent days seeking out the best; earrings, toe rings,  pendants, amulets and anklets.
In my past life, in Australia, I was a gold only girl! But why let a silly 'rule' like that stop you from enjoying so much wonderful stuff....I needed to re-ascess! 
Since living in India, I've come to know that everything people wear; colour, metal type, design and size all carry a particular significance, and are not worn for decoration alone.




In Vedic culture, gold is never worn below the waist. Gold, a popular choice for earrings and necklaces is believed to enhance the wearer with positive electricity....And silver has properties that re direct that energy back to the body, so silver is used in anklets and bangles to stop that positve electricity from escaping! The proctective qualities are further enhanced by the addition of sound. As the jangle of several bangles worn together or bells on your anklets gives off a warning sign to negative energies present in the atmostphere to keep away.
A babies first gift will be amulets and other adornment to aid their path in life, a woman wears different jewellery after marriage to benefit the new union, and a widowed woman wears little jewellery and is distinguished by wearing pale, pastel colours.
A pendant thats square in shape will aid the wearers material comforts, triangular shapes will highten your sprituality, a nose piercing will make childbirth easier, eases breathing diffulcties or you can donate one if wishing for a girl child!
These are just the tip of the iceberg....but needless to say, a facinating field of study and one that can justify almost any purchase!
I love shopping for genuine Kutchi silver...a quality of silver thats traditionaly been highly prized for it's purity. It make a fabulous gift, or as a treat to oneself, if you love tribal jewellery. I've lived in Kutch a long time now and know the best from the ordinary.....If you'd like me to find you something special, something beautiful, that comes from a fascinating culture and is handmade and interesting, let me find an item of special significance for you now! 




Some  links to further reading that may interest you -
http://www.astro-vani.com/blog/importance-of-jewelry/
ndyas.hpage.co.in/unknow-facts-about-hindu-religion_9526511.html
http://bapujirishiprasad.blogspot.in/2009/05/importance-of-indian-traditions.html

104 Comments

Handmade Quilts from Kutch

5/3/2014

6 Comments

 
PictureVintage quilts from Kutch adorn my office!
Since discovering Kutch, vintage quilts have become a constant in my life all year round.
They have simply so many different uses!
Right now, it's the middle of summer in Bhuj, and with the tempreture sitting on 42-43 degrees everyday, keeping ones house cool is of primary concern.
I rise early and the mornings are divine, but by 7.30 the sun is hot, and streams thru my front windows. So this time of year, my quilt collection is hanging! They cover all my windows during the day, and are so effective at reducing the heat, I need to only use my air conditioner occasionally and certainly not all day long!
During winter, I used the same quilts on the bed and also covering over my old sofa and as throws and knee rugs. They are so visually pleasing, and such an easy way to vary my decor from day to day.



All the different communities in Kutch make quilts! Every village home has a big pile of them and they are a favourite wedding gift amongst other handmade items for newly weds. Quilts are usually made by older women, those eyesight is not what it once was, and can no longer make the beautiful embroideries they made in their youth. 
The quilts are filled with cotton after the outer design has been completed, and the 'sandwich' of filling and cloth finally all held together with small running stitches. These quilts are not light weight like the famous Rajhasthani 'Kantha' quilts....they are much more robust and last for generations!
My favourites? I love the quilts of the Meghwal community from the Bani area in the northern villages of Kutch. They use reverse patchwork to make very colourful quilts, and the designs are bold! 
I love the way they change over time too. A recently made or rarely used quilt will be brighter than one thats been washed and hung in the sun to dry many times....over time these become more muted in colour, and are perfect for 'shabby' beachouse decor. 
I am lucky to have such a wide range of different vintage patchwork quilts to chose from....But if you'd like a beautiful quilt of your own, direct from a Kutchi village, please contact me! The handicrafts of Kutch are my specialist area, and shopping to order easily done. I can give you all the details you need, plus heaps of photos. You'll get the perfect quilt to suit your home, that can be enjoyed in so many different ways!








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    Author

    I am Lisa Hall, an Australian fashion designer living in Kutch, India.
    My label, Madame Hall makes makes gypsy inspired clothing for women who  want 'something different'

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