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STYLE
FROM TRADITIONAL TO PRÊT À PORTER Can a simple piece of cloth have a fashion moment? “Mais, oui! Yes, indeed,” says our new Style Columnist, Vanida Phimphrachanh. PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARY JANE MODELLING BY BOBEY PHANALASY TEXT BY VANIDA PHIMPHRACHANH & DOMINIQUE LE ROUX
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t’s time to recalibrate our notions about Lao handicrafts, and reinvigorate our wardrobes and household décor with a few timeless pieces. Handwoven and naturally dyed textiles can be oh-so contemporary. Lao designers have an eye for style, updating Lao ancestral crafts with fresh 21st century twists. Witness easy-wearing pleated skirts, or the traditional sinh revamped by statement accessories stitched from old-school weaves. And the most new-school apartment will relish pops of color-blocked cushions or contemporary ikat’s geometric designs. In today’s global consciousness, handcrafted products are becoming ever-more fashionable as part of a sustainable vision of luxury. Choosing the artisan-made says something about you: that you respect and comprehend the long and layered process of crafting something by hand. Whether it’s humble indigo-dyed cotton from Luang Namtha, or the haute couture of silken brocade with gold threads from Lyon’s old family Maison Carlhian, handwoven shows your savoir faire. Made in Laos: Crafted with time and consciousness, worn with love, used with respect.
