RESCHA Paris is a luxury fashion brand that explores the experience of living between French and Indian cultures through personal narratives and heritage textile techniques. Built on the foundations of identity, multiculturalism, and artisanship, its collections reflect a deep engagement with craft. The name comes from the Hindi word ‘Resha,’ meaning yarn, and every piece is created from carefully chosen yarns, exclusively using deadstock and sustainable fibers. We’re in conversation with Charlotte Chowdhury, the founder, about blending Indian craft with French design sensibilities.
The Beginning
It all started with my parents' closet, combined with Western and Eastern clothes, fabrics, accessories. I could see my mom and dad’s cultures were complete opposites but all those garments mixed together always made sense to me. I began my relationship to style with confidence, I had to be comfortable enough to wear those pieces mixed together outside, in public. I’ll always remember the first time I wore a saree in Paris, everyone was staring at me, I was so shocked. That’s when I really felt the need to talk about my story. It took me some time, as this story happened more than ten years ago.
French Minimalism and Indian Ornamentation
My cultural mix influenced my senses of shapes, textures, balances. Those elements are transcribed in my aesthetic. From my Indian origin, I inherit my love for colors and shiny elements, while my French origin inspired my taste for structured shapes. My way of working consists of finding inspiration in French and Indian cultures, engaging with everyday people and trying to transmit their stories through discussions and collaborations. Studying at Central Saint Martins was a real asset, I met people from so many different horizons who were looking to share their identities.
French and Indian crafts are at the center of the designing process. It allows me to place Rescha in this in-between temporality. Combining these crafts offers a new perspective on techniques used, and the people who wear them.
Balancing Sustainability and Innovation
Sustainability plays a huge role in our work, especially through the use of deadstock and sustainable fibers. We navigate the tension between creativity and the ethics of sustainability by constantly communicating with our suppliers, by working with Nona Source for our fabrics. Being sustainable means respecting the world we live in.
Hybridity
The first pieces I ever created back in 2012, when I was a teenager, were the ‘saree sweater’ and the ‘saree jean jacket’ - it was my first hybrid creation. Building this capsule collection was a way for me to create a new way of wearing this iconic Indian cultural piece which has been pushed aside by new generations. Indeed, sarees are now worn by them for special occasions, but not as part of everyday life. My aim was to restore this historic textile, by conceiving two shapes which allows men and women to wear it. It was important for me to create unisex pieces in order to question ideas of gender.
Craft and Connection
Rescha is about quiet details that tell a story of connections, woven into each piece with intention and respect. Our collections reflect a love for craft and a desire to keep traditions alive. Each garment is made to be worn and lived in, carrying forward the stories of those who made them and those who wear them. I want those who wear our clothes to be moved by this duality where history and progress coexist side by side. Finally, I want to give them the confidence to create their own language.
The Future
I’m working on opening our first Rescha shop in Paris, the future looks bright and full of opportunities!
This article is an excerpt from our November 2025 Bookazine. For more such stories, purchase the Bookazine here, or at select bookstores.
Words Neeraja Srinivasan
Date 2.5.2026