( The Bombay Blouse )

“This blouse is a very special memory of my childhood, that I partly spent in India. But even more so, this blouse is a memory of my mother, who is its original owner. I can still see her wearing it, charming the locals in Bombay with a genuine interest in their culture and style. When she passed away, I kept the blouse in her honor.”

When I was young, my parents travelled the world, and I came with them. I always admired my mother for the fact she effortlessly adapted to foreign cultures with huge enthusiasm. She loved it and she loved to dress the part. When we lived in Bombay, India, she purchased this blouse. You can tell the raw silk is of great quality, as it still looks like new today, 50 years after the purchase. My mom loved these kind of beautiful materials.

Apart from the blouse, my mother also owned several beautiful sari’s, which I loved. I kept some of them, but unlike this blouse, I don’t think I would wear them outside the house. The blouse I wear often though. It has stood the test of time, although a few of the buttons broke throughout the years. My mom had already replaced some of them with pushpins before it was passed on to me. These days, I like to wear it with a few buttons closed, flaring open towards the waist.

Just like my mom, I love to travel. The blouse often comes with me when I do, and is a strong reminder to look at the world as my mother did: with curiosity, an open mind and dressed in style.”

( Henriette )
( The Netherlands )

Photo: Niels Muñoz