The monk who makes a living out of fashion
Posted by Lucky on Feb 16, 2010
BANGALORE: Swami Pranavananda Brahmendra Avadhuta is not exactly a name that you would expect on the attendance rolls of a fashion trade show. But Swami Pranavananda Brahmendra Avadhuta
then swamiji—as he is known—hates predictable patterns in life as much as in his fabrics.
Christian Fabre became Swami Pranavananda after the ups and downs of his business life landed him in the lap of vedanta. But instead of withdrawing to himself, the French man decided to apply the new wisdom of share-and-care in his business, spotting the potential of organised retail in India as early as 2006.
Today, his Christian Fabre Textiles Pvt Ltd caters to around 20 global brands, including Lee Cooper to Oxbow, and stands out in India’s fabric firmament with 25-30% annual growth. The Chennai-based garment buying house acts as a facilitator between these brands and local manufacturers, with a finger across the value chain, from design to manufacturing.
At a recent international fashion trade show, his saffron dhoti-and-shawl appearance was declared a fashion statement. But little did the European crowd realise that Fabre swathes himself in a few yards of saffron every day except for the 10 days a month he spends at his Kolli hills hermitage in the
