This design, entitled “La Légende du poisson corail” (“the legend of the coral”) is a tribute to the very fragile universe created by corals – veritable marine oases where countless species of fish and plants find shelter from the dangers of their mysterious universe – and fertile ground to flourish.
The design features a coral reef, encircled by a prominent ring, mirroring that of a coral atoll. The richness of the surrounding universe – and that within – is represented by the colourful impressionist brush strokes, suggestive of the shimmerings of the water. At the centre, the fish, adopting camouflaged costumes to merge with the surroundings, took refuge among the corals to escape predators. Bars, streaks, diamond-shapes … mimicry blends with fantasy to create a magic world. At each of the corners of the carré, stylized flying fish symbolize the harmony between the heavens and the world below the waves.
This design strikes me for its resemblance to "De Madras à Zakynthos", despite the two different artists. The design is quite effervescent, with most of the design colours quite vibrant and contrasting, so it takes an equally powerful personality to pull it off.
This scarf is an ode to the infinite inventiveness of Nature, to its diversity, in all its splendour, and to the most visible gift endowed upon all creatures - their "habits". Pelages et Camouflage ("Coats and camouflage") is equally a tribute to the human nature’s creative drive to mirror the beauty of nature.
From her native Africa and her imaginary travels, Aline Honoré has brought back a mosaic of the sumptuous, the exuberant and the wild. This scarf is a patchwork mixing up these treasures of primitive prints, sewn together and embellished with necklaces of Massai pearls in between, from Senegal and from Ethiopia, a Peul wall-hanging, fabrics from Ghana, Zaire, Mali and craft embroidery. Among all these protective disguises, notice that of the imaginary animal, marked by H’s, taking cover among the rest.
A truly magnificent scarf that ties wonderfully as it displays with impact and class.
