A WORLD OF SILK...

Andre Claude Canova has a worldwide reputation as an artist who enjoys a continuous love affair with fine silks.  Many of the famous scarves from Dunhill, Chanel, Cartier, Dior were made at his modern factory which is equipped to print a half a mile of fabric when given the green light. 

It was 25 years ago, that Canova began his romance with silk. Today, he designs his own collection, with one scarf often boasting 15 to 20  different colors.  His studio in Lyon is an old Carthusian residence, with silk walls, furbishings and pillows.  It's both historic and dramatic.  Even the exterior boasts a  horseshoe shaped Renaissance staircase.
 

But, don't let that Old World ambience fool you, inside are rooms filled with today's most beautiful and best-selling scarves, pillows, vests, jackets.  Yes, even scarf suspenders, which Jerry Hall (the former Mrs. Mick Jagger) bought 20 pairs!   Everyone from Princess Caroline of Monaco to Bill Clinton of the U.S. have Canova scarves and ties in their wardrobe. Often described as a poet of color, Canova may have inherited his artistry from his ancestor, Canova de Possagno, a noted bronze sculptor in the 18th century.

Andre Claude Canova

Canova creates all his  designs, from vest to  blouses, to ties, etc.

Andre Claude was a successful photographer, always with a trained eye for color and fabric.  Soon he decided to translate his vision to another field.   "My goals are quality and creativity," he told me when I visited him at his atelier in Lyon.  His talent was obvious, and many helped to make his dream of designing a reality.  An executive of Cartier was particularly helpful in introducing him to new clients and  helping him get a loan to open the House of Canova.

"I work because I am passionate about my designs," he confided.  "My factory is 35 miles from Lyon.  Come, I will take you there so you can see how these silk designs are made." 

 Bonnie and Mrs. Canova model scarf suspenders. 
One celebrity ordered 20 pairs!

We arrived 40 minutes later at one of the most modern factories I've been in.  I could understand how it could run 20 colors on one design. He explained it took 12 hours to run that much color.  Most factories might do six or seven, but 20 no way! 

 He took us though the factory, which was neat as a bridal dress, and went through the silk screening process.  His excitement and pride showed how much he loved what he was doing. 

Where does he get his ideas?  "Travel, history, nature inspire me," he smiled.  "The music of the 60's inspired me to design a rock n' roll theme on a scarf.  Once I get an idea it quickly flows and expands.  My latest was to do vests and braces (suspenders), then belts and blouses.  I get an idea every few minutes, and I quickly sketch it.  It can be a sunset in Tuscanny, the gold of Massa masks, the silky pearl shades of  a Maharajah's robe, or the rare jewels from the Taj Mahal."   All these and more,  Canova has captured on silk, and the world of fashion is showering him with compliments.

In the factory