Look Out, Galliano: Part 1
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According to a recent issue of Wallpaper Magazine, John Galliano has been spotted in past years strolling through Mangaldas Market, snatching up bolts of fabric for his ready-to-wear collections. Keeping his motto of the month in mind, I decided it was time for me to jump into the designer game, if only for myself.
Bombay makes it easy for anyone to be a designer. Unique fabrics and accoutrements are plentiful. The arduous crafts of embroidery and beading are widely known. And, of course, tailoring is as expensive as you want it to be. It’s a given that if you go to a storefront tailor, he (usually he) will likely outsource the labor to an even cheaper tailor in the suburbs, who may then shop out different components of the work to people below him. So, like in all good business deals, the key is to cut out the middle man.
A friend tipped me off to a good tailor who we were planning to meet after our fabric buying excursions. Knowing that he was willing and able to realize outfits from magazine pictures, crude drawings, or from copying and modifying clothing I already had, I went to Mangaldas armed with six months of clippings from Vogue, Elle, L’Officiel, and even the Bombay Times. From what I understand, clothing patterns aren’t patented. But if they are, this is India, where copyright means “the right to copy.”
funny we have been doing the same thing lately!! my friend and i have been shopping like mad at all the fabric stores in bandra. we have 3 different tailors here that we love. they are wonderful with western stuff and indo-western wear. we have done the same, printed photos from online and gotten stuff made. last year i was in love with mangalas market, but now its too far and too arduous in this heat!