From Bengal, East India to Nantes, West France, with love!
This is the story of a lovely encounter between Usha -founder of Jamini- and Claire -founder of L'Atelier Plume.
Claire, lover of all things beautiful, comes from a family that lives with culture in all its forms. Art and beauty have shaped her vision over the years. After having worked in graphic design, Claire was a cultural communications manager in the world of entertainment for more than 10 years. When her daughter Marnie was born, Claire decided to follow a new path and started designing jewelry. She sourced precious stones to create her range and this led her to collaborate with a talented atelier in India. Atelier Plume was born in 2015.
Claire, founder of L'Atelier Plume © Amit Sihad - © L'Atelier Plume
Atelier Plume collaborated with two workshops, each run by a family of a long line of jewelers in the state of Rajasthan, the "Land of Kings”, the second largest state in India. This region, known for its maharajahs is rich in deposits of precious and semi-precious stones such as emeralds, garnets, agates, amethysts, topaz, rubies and turquoise.
Joined by a common passion for India, Usha and Claire have created a capsule collection that pays tribute to the craftsmanship and colors of this fascinating country. The range includes a jacket and dress hand embroidered in Bengal , made from khadi cotton, as well as a Dakota cuff, an iconic model by L'Atelier Plume. The collaboration is in line with Jamini's vision, in which know-how, craftsmanship and colors blend and intertwine.
We asked Usha & Claire what India evoked in them !
Mija dress in khadi cotton © oioo_studio
Dakota cuff, khadi cotton jacket © oioo_studio
Your first memory of India
Claire: the first time I discovered India I was struck by the ambient noise, an organized bazaar which seems to be a gigantic mess but in which everything always fits together beautifully.
Usha : Assam, my birthplace and its green vistas, tea gardens and magnificent elephants and the rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park.
Your favorite place in India
Claire : My haven of peace, "my happy place" in Jaipur in Rajasthan : Jobner bagh, I feel at home there, a bit like a holiday resort where I enjoy traveling several times a year.
Usha : the North-East region : ancestral home of many tribal people, delicious Assamese vegetables, vibrant music celebrating harvest festivals, strong women and their attire, the river Brahmaputra : all these elements inspire and move me.
City Palace, Jaipur © Jérome Galland - Kaziranga park, Assam © Sophie Denux
Brahmaputra © Sophie Denux
Your favorite Indian dish
Claire : definitely the little cooked zucchinis, also called "lady fingers". I can eat them morning, noon and night!
Usha: without a doubt, Assamese vegetarian dishes. I love the different species of spinach, ginger and fragrant lemons.
© Sophie Denux
Your favorite season in India / France
Claire: In India, I love the period of Holi, the Hindu festival that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The heat is still bearable and I like the fact that I need to put on a few warm clothes in the evening when I leave the workshops.
In France, on the other hand, I love the arrival of autumn, this period also called the Indian summer when the colors are picturesque and the weather is mild.
Usha: In India, between the months of October and March. It is the period when we celebrate Diwali, families get together and share moments of joy. It is also the best time to go for a walk in the mountains, and autumn in Mumbai offers us incredible shades of colors.
In France, I prefer the spring-summer season: the sun that warms the skin, delicious seafood, flowers that fill parks & gardens and walks in the countryside at sunset.
The common point between India and France
Claire : I would say the rich cultures and the beauty of the landscapes. My curiosity and my love of beauty are fulfilled in these two worlds.
Usha : The love for food and flavors! And also the pleasure that people take in having hour long discussions and debates about all sorts of topics!
Embroidered jacket in khadi cotton © oioo_studio
If India were a color
Claire: Ahaha I'm not going to be original but pink of course!
Usha : Curry yellow : it's a mystical and mysterious color that has always fascinated me and inspires numerous Jamini collections.
If India were a flavor
Claire : cardamom
Usha : masala chai!
© Jérome Galland