A family legacy from 1900
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The story of Lesage dynasty started in the beginning of the 1900’s, when Albert Lesage was inherited from the Michonet workshop, which was, by the time, the most renown name of the Parisian haute-couture embroideries. With Marie-Louise Favot, the spirit of the new Lesage workshop as well as a wonderful wife, they had 3 children: Jean-Louis, Christiane and François.
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Talented in drawing and passionated by his father’s embroideries since his youngest age, François Lesage will brought his groundbreaking ideas and his skills to the company: the two generations were running successfully the company which was supplying embroideries for the best: from Napoleon III at Albert’s time to Chanel, Dior or Saint Laurent at François’ time.
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François’ son, Jean François Lesage, fascinated by architecture and decorative arts since his youngest age, has always keep in mind the family tradition. However, he preferred to open a new chapter in this story.
It is in the late 1980’s, during a journey in India, that Jean François found his calling for embroideries with a new idea: embellishing interiors.
A new story: Vastrakala
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Once back in France, Jean François created a new brand: Lesage Interiors, associated with Patrick Savouret.
Keeping in mind the amazement that can arouse India, Jean François decided to live and work in Chennai (Madras). Then, he outsourced a part of the embroideries to the unit he had met.
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Then, nearly 25 years ago from today, in 1993, Jean François decided to found Vastrakala, along with his partners: Patrick, Malavika Shivakumar & Sandeep Rao. Their goal was to create together a respectful factory of hand embroidery in Chennai.
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This institution found its place in a colonial style house, near Poes Garden. Today, this wonderful house is at the image of its owners and the profession it is sheltering.
A human project
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With the help of a community of artisan embroiders from Sriperambadur, themselves descending from an embroidery tradition dating from the late 18th century, Vastrakala has renew a whole community of indian workers.
Indeed, in choosing a special community of embroiders from south India, Vastrakala as succeed in offering them stability. Unlike others regions of India where the embroiderers are mostly migrants workers, Vastrakala's embroiderers go back to their villages every evening. They have also always been helped concerning health or family as much as possible.
This also helped on restoring their self-esteem and convincing them of the importance of their talent even in the 21st century. Indeed, it took hours each week to reconnect the artisans with their dignity, explaining them the magic of their hands, the importance of their knowledge and the real fascination modern people from India and abroad have for their talent.
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Vastrakala employs today 170 embroiders, and a management team of 10 active people, each one having his special regard concerning embroideries.
As a reward for its respect, the company acquired the SA 8000 certification: an international norme, certifying the working environment, remuneration and respect for indian regulations as much as international onces.
