Camalya looks back on 35 years of millinery savoir faire
Passed down from father to son, the family brand and manufacturer showcases its excellence at both Who’s Next and Interfilière, and proudly claims its successful duality.
« I’m pretty sure that if you walk down the center aisle, we’re the oldest exhibitor here” says Arif Hiridjee. We meet him at the Camalya booth, the brand he co-founded with his wife 35 years ago. He is without a doubt one of Who’s Next’s earliest visitors: he used to walk the trade show as a child with his parents, who were wholesalers. “We’re here for the quality of the audience, but also out of duty” he says. “Who’s Next is a part of our history”.
The art of handmade hats
This history is that of a family business born in French Val-de-Marne region, and that embodies the major shifts that millinery has undergone in the last decades. When they launched the brand at the time, the craftsmanship and the boldness of their designs quickly charmed retailers and wholesalers. Word of mouth did the rest and the brand was soon sold in all the BHV department stores in France – until the, stores were acquired by the Galeries Lafayette group.
« We were asked to go white label,” recalls Arif Hiridjee, “so we put our own creations aside.” But orders kept on coming under Arhas International, their manufacturer’s name. And the couple began collaborating with major luxury houses, strengthening its reputation with hats woven by expert craftswomen in Madagascar, and shaped in their French workshop using the finest millinery techniques.
The return of Camalya
But Camalya had not said its last word. Eight years ago, Camil Hiridjee followed in his parents’ footsteps and joined the adventure. “At that time, we were all about fast fashion” says his father. “Camil came in with sustainability conditions that we found difficult to accept, but we felt that it was the right direction to take.”
The pandemic ultimately confirmed a growing demand for local, ethically made products. Camalya’s freshly relaunched creations are as inspired as ever, embedded in a responsible manufacturing that supports the development of the craftswomen of Madagascar, as well as inclusive processes in France. “We are deeply bonded to the island” says Camil Hiridjee. “We are lucky to benefit from two areas of expertise and a great flexibility, thanks to our long experience. I’m very proud of what we’ve managed to achieve.”
A lasting bond, from Interfilière to Who’s Next
Arhas International and Camalya now operate as two side of the same coin. From Maadgascar to Champigny-sur-Marne and from Interfilière to Who’s Next, the synergy lives on and keeps on telling a tale of preserved craftsmanship, carried by the social and environmental preoccupations of our time. And Camil Hiridjee proudly concludes: “The wheel has turned, we are now back at Galeries Lafayette!”
