Vastrakala’s intricate hand embroidery is part of private homes in France, the Opera de Monte Carlo in Monaco, and even the refurbished throne of French emperor Napoleon. Now, the artisans are expanding their repertoire — with collaborations. The latest addition is textile that resembles stained glass, jointly created by French multidisciplinary designer Victoire de Brantes and the embroiderers during a four-month residency.
“At Vastrakala [co-founded by French entrepreneur Jean-François Lesage], we have had regular interventions with artists, notably painters, but this was our first real artistic residency,” says co-founder and managing director Malavika Shivakumar. In collaboration with Villa Swagatam, a platform for cultural exchanges between Indian and French artists, the residencies are aimed at creating new forms of embroidery and developing fresh products for the Chennai-based embroidery atelier.
