I remember years ago when working at the Sydney Theatre Company, a well known Australian costume designer taking a whif of some magnificently beaded fabric. He immediatly tossed it aside like it was a dirty dishcloth, took a deep puff on his cigarette and declared distainfully "INDIAN FABRIC....it always stinks of curry!"
Arghhh, those were the days! .... when smoking was still permitted in Australian costume departments and stressed Indian workers , toiling for a few rupees a day, literally ate 'on the job'! We all laughed, and knew exactly what he was talking about. Indian textiles did have a common smell back then!
How much more profesional things are now, at least from my experience working with the artisans of Kutch.
The rise of India's fashion industry, one that competes internationally on the world stage, calls for world class textiles. The new generation of young artisans making fabrics for designers and the international market run their businesses really profesionally. Quality dyes are used, and workers get lunch and 'chai' breaks away from their work enviroment. They are paid properly and valued for their age old skills. And finally, quality control is strictly monitered, so the end product meets the high expectations of a modern consumer.
Madame Hall works with fabrics made by these methods. They cost a little more, but the production methods ensures a garment that will perform well, and you won't smell like yesterdays dinner!
Read about Jabbar Khatri's wonderful delicate Bandhani -
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fashion/the-dots-come-alive/article5756717.ece
Arghhh, those were the days! .... when smoking was still permitted in Australian costume departments and stressed Indian workers , toiling for a few rupees a day, literally ate 'on the job'! We all laughed, and knew exactly what he was talking about. Indian textiles did have a common smell back then!
How much more profesional things are now, at least from my experience working with the artisans of Kutch.
The rise of India's fashion industry, one that competes internationally on the world stage, calls for world class textiles. The new generation of young artisans making fabrics for designers and the international market run their businesses really profesionally. Quality dyes are used, and workers get lunch and 'chai' breaks away from their work enviroment. They are paid properly and valued for their age old skills. And finally, quality control is strictly monitered, so the end product meets the high expectations of a modern consumer.
Madame Hall works with fabrics made by these methods. They cost a little more, but the production methods ensures a garment that will perform well, and you won't smell like yesterdays dinner!
Read about Jabbar Khatri's wonderful delicate Bandhani -
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fashion/the-dots-come-alive/article5756717.ece