THEY WORK FOR A COUTURIER OR JOIN A WORKSHOP IN A PLACE KNOWN FOR COUTURE AS FAR AS AFRICA ITSELF
They rent sewing machines for 2-300€ a month in a system that is illegal but tolerated, because of the work it provides:
Senegal's Issa N'Domane Sy sings in Fulani, Wolof and French. Between concerts he works for couturiers.
Entire families may depend on them and their lives are precarious,
but they are always cordial and cheerful:
Fadel Couture
15 rue Affre
Sow Poullo Couture
40 rue Cave
-- "Can I take a picture?"
-- "Yes, as many as you like!" said the couturier in red in the rear of the workshop with a big smile.
A friend sits at the entry. The workshops seem as convivial as the beauty salons.
Atelier Diom Lamine
38 rue Cave
The workshops are messy...
...lack of space can mean working on the floor...
...yet the well-done work...
Formerly at 30 rue des Gardes
Atelier Dom Lamine
38 rue Cavé
...expresses the individuality of the client, who imagines the outfit with the tailor:
Atelier rue Jean Richard
Rue Jean Richard
I have sat in on many of these sessions — I'm in the mirror, taking the picture
.
# # #
The tailors recall times when the wealthy created their attire with a couturier, as Zola describes in The Kill.
The practice declined after 1920, when a manufacturer mass-produced a dress from Chanel. He took a risk — would women wear the same thing?
# # #
This couture is colorful, ornamented and of simple cut.
Its interest: Impact and individual expressiveness.
* * *
No comments:
Post a Comment