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| Atelier Notify in the Bon Marché |
Denim has certainly been claimed here in the USA
but the fabric originated in France.
'Serge de Nîmes' ('fabric of Nîmes’)
remains the sturdy textile adopted by
businessman Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis
to create the classic 'blue jean’.
(’Genes’ was a term the French used to describe the people of Genoa, Italy
where the first trousers were made.)
The ‘Born in the USA’, never-go-out-of-style,
always chic, universally adapted 'uniform' of today
is definitely the blue jean.
In the current fashion climate
multitudes of styles abound
and jeans are worn all over the world.
Jeans are an important part of the French casual ‘uniform’
of scarf (winter and summer),
t-shirt,
jacket (leather, denim or sport),
jeans (in many colors and iterations)
and shoes (optional boot, flat or heel).
It was exciting to hear about a new space in the Bon Marché,
devoted exclusively to denim and all the ways it can be enhanced.
(Thanks to ParisTilton tour participants
Robyn and Paula for the heads up about this.)
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| With Ken. Photo by Marcy Tilton. |
Ken, a graduate of Esmod, Paris,
was a great help, a font of information
and his English was excellent
(always a plus for me whose French is limited).
Atelier Notify will happily customize anything for you.
The perfect way to make your wardrobe
uniquely your own.
Choose your fabric.
Choose the style.
Your jeans will be fit to order.
Watch them work.
At the embroidery machine.
Adjusting pants.
Enjoying the work.
Discussing the work.
Some of the many embroidery choices.
Embroidered words and images.
The French sense of humor injected into their style.
Each seam has been ripped open.
Whimsical drawings of Paris.
Painted words. Photo by Marcy Tilton.
An added bonus
is the coffee shop just behind the space
complete with a DJ.
Hand made.
Made by hand.
Anything touched by the hand -- recognized as being special,
unique, one-of-a-kind.
Occupying a space in some pretty high end real-estate.
About time.
Typically work done by women.
Although I noted only one woman
working in the space...
After talking with Ken
and seeing all the possibilities they offer,
I realized that
I had done all of these things on fabric myself
-- paint, embroider, add ge-gaws, appliqué, rip, tear, fringe, stitch.
On denim, on leather,
on pants, purses, shoes, jackets, coats, tops,
skirts, scarves, bracelets, pins and more.
I could work there.
I'd probably have to speak French though...
I hope you can join one of our
where we can see what we will discover together!
This was originally posted as a blog
on ParisTilton.
