In anticipation of the summer season and the warm sunny days, we are pleased to announce our third collaboration with the Indian brand Kardo. While keeping the same model of short-sleeved shirt, whose shape has remained unchanged since our first collaboration in 2022, we offer you 18 new colorful prints, including 3 "Block Print"exclusive!" !
Summary:
1. History of the collaboration Kardo x Flâneurs
Founded in 2013 in the heart of New Delhi, the brand Kardo is part of an approach to promotion of Indian expertise en terms of weaving and of dye. While maintaining these traditions, she infuses a touch of modernity and adapts to contemporary demands. Kardo is radically different from the "fast fashion" and mass production by favoring a meticulous confection, but also by taking special care in every detail and finish of its pieces.
Sharing this philosophy, we immediately formed a connection with this manufacturer. This relationship first led to our initial collaboration for the Spring/Summer 2022 season, and then to a second one last year. Both partnerships having been quite successful, it was only natural that a third collaboration emerged for the Spring/Summer 2024 season.
2. The short-sleeve shirt from this collaboration
Kardo offers a wide selection of fabrics, all more beautiful and unique than the next, available in various forms of shirts, jackets, and other garments. Our goal was therefore to highlight their fabrics through a unique design: a short-sleeved shirt, at the straight cut and comfortableSuitable for different body types. Streamlined with a cervix open and one chest pocket, this shirt thus makes room for the colors and patterns various offers provided by Kardo.
To create this unique model, we drew inspiration from the style of shirts from the 1950s and 1960s. As a result, a "Cuban collar" equipped with a buckle closure, cut and finished in a square silhouette, as well as a buttoned chest pocket in the form of "Mountain" taking inspiration, for her part, from the shirts "Big Yank" from the 30s/40s. The whole undoubtedly brings a touch workwear to this summer shirt !
For this third collaboration, we have decided to exclusively feature the Block Print pattern. BP69 in 3 new different color combinations. After several tests and exchanges with Rikki from home Kardo, we have decided on the following variations:
- Indigo/Black
- Gris/Rouge
- Olive/Black
3. The various artisanal techniques of Kardo
Kardo uses various techniques that require the involvement of numerous specialized craftsmen across the country. Among the 18 shirts that make up this third collaboration, Kardo highlights the Ikat weaving, the Shibori and more broadly the Block Print.
Wath is Ikat ?
It is an ancient weaving method originating from Asia, notably from Indonesia, China, and other Asian regions, which involves dyeing the threads before weaving to create patterns. These patterns gradually emerge during the weaving process due to the specific arrangement of the dyed threads. This complex artisanal process includes several steps, such as the search for patterns and colors, spinning, dyeing with knots to reserve areas for the patterns, and finally weaving. Each piece of Ikat remains the same in both French and English. It refers to a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process on the yarns prior to dyeing and weaving the fabric. is unique and can be used for various garments, like here for shirts.
The shirts Kardo x Flâneurs made using Ikat weaving
What is Shibori?
Shibori is an ancient Japanese dyeing technique that involves folding, stitching, or binding fabric before dyeing it. The word "shibori" means "to wring or squeeze," describing the method used. This technique creates geometric patterns and gradients on the fabric by leaving certain areas un- or less-dyed. Practiced since the 8th century, this art form was originally used for samurai garments and kimonos worn by the noble class in Japan. Today, Shibori is practiced worldwide, often using natural indigo, a deep blue dye extracted from the indigo plant, and applied to natural fiber fabrics. Shibori techniques include various methods of folding, binding, and stitching, all carried out by hand using traditional craftsmanship.
The shirt Kardo x Flâneurs in Shibori
What is Block Print?
Block Print is an ancient hand-printing technique that originated in Rajasthan, in northern India. It involves the creation of a design hand-carved into a wooden block, which is then “stamped” to print onto various types of fabrics, such as cotton, linen, or silk. The fabrics are stretched and fixed onto a printing table, and the patterns are applied in successive layers using stamps dipped in dye. After printing, the fabrics are hand-washed to set the vegetable dyes, then sun-dried and ironed. Each piece is unique due to the entirely manual process. This tradition, potentially dating back 2,000 years, flourished in India under the patronage of the Rajas in the 12th century and continues to be passed down from generation to generation, primarily in the Sanganer - Jaipur region, where the main workshops are still located today.
12 of the shirts from this third collaboration are "printed" from the Block Print. This traditional method is very visually interesting due to the layering of stamps which offers beautiful variations of colors. And it's even more striking when you look at the fabric up close. That's all the charm of the Block Print. Please note that it is not uncommon to find a few small "spots" between the patterns, resulting from the dyeing process. Block Print has the advantage of offering a unique piece: proof below!
The shirts Kardo x Flâneurs made in Block Print
4. The expertise and quality of manufacturing Kardo
Kardo also stands out for its production process: each step of the making is carried out by one or more dedicated artisans, whose names appear on the inside label. This approach aims to highlight the quality of each artisan’s work and emphasize the human element. Behind every shirt are several women and men. To better understand this system, you can watch their video illustrating the different stages of making a shirt.
This promotion of local traditions stems from the desire to preserve these techniques and perpetuate them, at a time when industrial production favors quantity over quality. Their motto is explicit: "It's not where it is made that matters, but who made it and under what condition". Thus, the focus is not on the place of manufacture, but on the identity of the maker and the conditions under which it was made.
This philosophy, which resonates with our values and which we embody through numerous partnerships, gives to Kardo a human dimension that we support and aspire to promote, in order to pay tribute to the meticulous work of these craftsmen and their exceptional know-how.
We are both proud and delighted to offer you these 18 new short-sleeved shirts, from the 3rd collaboration Kardo x Flâneurs:
