MAKANI, a french ethnic and bohemian brand
Makani is an independent French clothing brand. Its collections are designed in France and manufactured mainly in India and Nepal, in an artisanal way, in workshops that we know well.
Its colorful universe is rich in prints with ethnic influences, its style tinged with bohemian inspirations, a hippie touch.
Makani is an affordable brand that is aimed at women and men looking for originality and color, that "elsewhere" touch for everyday dressing. Makani is distributed in independent multi-brand stores in France and Europe.
A few words of history
Makani was born in 1995 under the name of the well-known Indo-Nepalese greeting "Namaste". Its story is first and foremost that of two friends, Franck and Jérôme, backpackers who set off on a world tour that brings them to Katmandu, capital of Nepal and meeting place for hippies from all over the world. They come back with their heads and suitcases full of ideas and pretty harem pants.
The brand, then with a very baba cool style, did not take long to settle in ethnic boutiques.
In 2019, a page turns, the brand is taken over. Namaste then becomes the story of two girls who decide to give it a new turn and give it new impetus.
Namaste then becomes Makani for its new spring / summer 2022 collection.
Colors and fabrics
Creating a new collection is always a unique opportunity to delve into color swatches, and research new patterns with Katarina, our textile designer.
It is mainly in India that our prints come to life, and printed on natural fabric such as cotton, or artificial, made from processed natural resources, such as viscose.
We also work with synthetic fabrics, such as Indian polyester, which is appreciated for its fluidity which gives summer dresses a very nice lightness.
And there is silk, the real silk!
Natural fabric so pleasant to wear in summer and winter. In an eco-responsible approach, the entire silk collection is made from old recycled silk sarees to make pretty tunics, tops, dresses or skirts.
Each piece is therefore unique!
Handcrafted manufacturing, lasting partnerships
Makani is a small family business. We visit India and Nepal twice a year to prepare the collections.
We are committed to working with workshops or factories on a human scale and our suppliers have become real partners with whom we have been working for more than 15 years for some!
Projects to be more "responsible"
Aware that the textile industry must be more and more responsible due to its impact on the environment, we favor as much as possible transport by sea, the use of recycled fabrics as for silk, upcycling by reusing old prints on new models, or scraps of fabric to make headbands or small silk bags that we offer.
We are concentrating our efforts on limiting our unsold items and have partnerships with Emmaüs or Le Relais for items that are clearly unsaleable!
We still have a lot to do: less environmental impact, more recycled fabrics, associative support, etc.
And we are working on it !
