The subtle smell of vanilla when you step into the shop at the Caudan Waterfront perfectly matches the feminine touch that Tafta is all about. Dresses, skirts, trousers and other garments are displayed on models or hung up on wrought iron coat hangers ? a sign that Tafta has a certain standing. Such clothes can?t be hung up on ordinary plastic ones?

The company manager, Patricia Lagesse, is a perfectionist. Every single item of clothing has to be in the right place and properly displayed and the shop itself has to exude professionalism ? in her own image it seems. ?I design all the clothes here myself and I suppose I must leave my touch on them. With the shop, I think it is the same thing.You can see my influence here also!? Well, one of the characteristics of this businesswoman is certainly professionalism.

As a designer, she worked in the free zone sector for several years. Then, for personal reasons, she felt she wanted to open her own business. ?With my experience at an international level, I thought I could offer a real Mauritian hallmark to Mauritians.? This comes back several times in the conversation. Patricia Lagesse insists that her company is 100% Mauritian and can offer high-quality clothes on the Mauritian market.

Except from femininity ? which seems to be her keyword while doing her job ? it is all about a blend of Western fashion with a touch of the oriental. In a word, Tafta seems to be the perfect illustration of Mauritius in terms of a cultural melting pot. ?It is a link between East and West,? the manager explains.

With her materials from India ? organza, silk, and muslin ? the designer also counts on the comfortable and natural qualities these materials offer. But more than that, Patricia Lagesse wants her clothes to have a heart and soul. This may be why she has three different collections in her shop.

The ?Spirit? collection is something that has always existed in the Tafta shops ? from the first in Pointe-aux-Canoniers in 1990 to the three existing ones now at Caudan, Grand-Bay and Pamplemousses. It is mostly composed of black and white clothes; it often contains details such as lace, crochet work and embroidery.

Mingling East & West

?Trends?, as its name suggests, is the most fashionable of Patricia Lagesse?s collections. She is inspired by what she sees during her trips to Europe and adapts the models and colours to Mauritian tastes.

As she mentions ?Spices?, she has a broad smile. No doubt this collection is her favourite one. ?This is where I try to mix Eastern and Western styles.? This is where you get saffron or green outfits with a little Indian touch.

Tafta is a perfect illustration of Mauritian dress-making skills. ?Many details are done by hand in my workshops and I suppose that, with a little bit of training, many people would be able to develop such skills on the island. We should rely on quality products to fight competition from India and China for instance??

Tafta also does tailor-made?

?I can design and make wedding dresses as long as they are not traditional ones.? Patricia Lagesse has set the tone. She doesn?t want to be like any other dress designer. She has already made some wedding dresses or outfits but will not hear of following the trend. ?The clothes have to be made with my materials and according to what I can offer as designs.? For other tailor-made clothes, it is the same thing. She can make them as long as they do not go against her creative spirit.