Gens Du Voyage: A Parisian Melting Pot

Monday, September 17, 2012

A Parisian Melting Pot

When I stayed in Paris, I used to walk to the Forum des Halles (Espace créateurs) where they have all these super cool collections from Parisian designers, many of them from other parts of the world. This is where I discovered a small shop where they sold mostly Afro-inspired threads that made me wanna cry because I could not afford it. Nonetheless, I'd come home with tons of inspiration! The girlies that worked there were so cute! I befriended one of them and she'd just talk to me while I lusted after the African prints and gorgeous jewelry. It wasn't long after that I discovered two creative ladies I have been following ever since who also have their stuff in the same 'mall'.

They are Bezem and Mai Lan, two gorgeous Parisian designers who make some of the baddest gear around. You wanna talk about fusion of cultures? Bezem is of Togolese and Russian descent and Mai Lan is French/Vietnamese. Cool or what? And when you take a look at their designs, they are as cool as their backgrounds are! Is this nomad style of what?

Here's stuff I have been collecting over the years from them. I don't know if you can find these photos in their website anymore because they've changed it a bit, but you should still check it out: bezemymailan.com
Maybe you won't be able to buy something, but at least, get inspired...

Oh ya, and by the way, if you are familiar with Les Nubians and wonder where they get some of the stuff they are rockin', well, these 2 have helped just a bit!