Tie the Knot with Pascale Leclezio

Macramé fashion is back!  This handicraft, which was long ago used by British and American sailors, is now a new way to decorate our walls. It represents the art of tying knots. Pascale Leclezio takes us to the world of Macramé, a craft that necessitates patience and love.

It all started in the 1970s with her friends. Pascale has always practised this craft. Since then, the bracelets she was making during her youth inspired her to be more creative. While taking us down memory lane, she takes us back in the 1970s when hippies embraced nature and when things crafted were considered as valuable. Pascale Leclezio explains how she transformed simple threads into a decorative ‘oeuvre d’art’.

The big work came up about one year ago when her daughter was looking for something original to decorate the wall of her living room. Wall hangers, plant hangers, everything could have beautified any wall. “I then came across wall hanging designs in macramé on the net and created it myself. While a simple knot was not enough, I tried to learn more about different techniques and be more creative with these strings made of cotton twine,” she explains.

Encouragement from her surroundings

Encouraged by her husband and her two daughters, she is proudly producing beautiful macramé in her living room. Every decorative macramé she is making is inspired from the internet or from the heart. However, Pascale learnt everything on her own and is now selling her products with the help of some encouragement and from her surroundings. No one showed her how to create these beautiful designs.

Starting from a simple knot and ending with beautiful decorative wall hangers, she was also encouraged by Saskia Pougnet Béchard who encouraged her to submit her creations in shops at Cascavelle and Caudan. It was also Saskia who propelled her to participate in Pop-up Store this year. While everything is turning out to be popular and attractive, her business is catching up. Happy about selling her products in different shops, she feels happy and proud about each ‘Thank You’ note or compliments.

Pleasure in making Makrame

While every piece is unique, it is a real pleasure for her to give her free time for things like Macramé. Plant hangers look sometimes identical to the others but it does require time and patience.

She acknowledges that this craft is not recognised in a beautiful island like ours. “This little job of mine does not really help in making money. Handicraft is not valued.  There are so many talented prsons who leave their potential for a better paid job yet less interesting,” she says.

She feels very happy while making each piece. She does hurt herself while making the knots. “I feel at peace and relax while creating these macramé creations. While some feel better while painting, do sports or dance or even practising yoga, I found my remedy with this piece of cotton,” she highlighted.

Reshmee Bheemuck