Of hot croissants, colourful kaftans and a French market

The aroma of fluffy hot croissants, the sight of delicate Parisian embroidery on silk kaftans and more.... city would soon get a glimpse of French culture and industry during a two day French market at the Phoenix MarketCity this weekend. Organised in association with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce, the market will consist of popular brands and art exhibits exclusively from France.
“There is a strong relationship between the two countries and we share a common liking for food and music. And with Chennai being one of the big hubs for French industry, the market serves as an ideal platform to directly engage with the Indian customer,” says Pierre Behnam president, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce.
The event promises to spice up the weekend with a variety of stalls that give a flavour of traditional French culture. One of them will be an exhibition of paintings by Puducherry-based French artist Jacques Beaumelle. Hailing from Lunel near Montpellier, Beaumelle says the people and colours of India are an inspiration to his work. The exhibition will feature some of his paintings depicting the famous Belgian comic characters Tintin and Milou on the streets of Puducherry.
Giving visitors the ultimate French experience will be the various fashion and food stalls. The kaftan collection by Paris-based Isabelle H Schmidt are expected to stand out for their unique design. “These kaftans aren’t too loose and are more fitted. They have minimal embroidery with Swarovski crystals and are made from silk,” says Isabelle, director, Atelier Safrane Cortambert. Some of the other brands in the fair like Saint Gobain, Renault and Decathalon will give visitors an insight into the growing French industry. The market is open from 11am to 9pm between June 18 and June 19.