Spices and sarees; when Ernest van der Kwast thinks of India…
As a matter of fact, that’s how we met, three years ago. Instead of the usual boring book launch – afternoon drinks at a publishing house-, Ernest decided to present his wonderful novella ‘Giovanna’s navel’ at my store in Rotterdam. “A much more original and stimulating environment”, according to Ernest. A very fitting location too, since the main character in the title story falls in love with a girl wearing a bikini, a year before the bikini was even invented. From the moment we met, I was fascinated by Ernest, and we stayed in touch. And so, when I decided to design a collection inspired by Indian rebel saint Mirabai, I immediately thought of this handsome son of India. I asked him what his mother’s country meant to him, and he sent me this reply:
‘When I think about India, I think of my mothers colourful herbs and spices: yellow, red, grey-white, deep black. She used to save her spices in a shiny metal box- her treasure box. But just as precious were her sarees that had the most gorgeous, intense colours: pink, orange, magenta, ultramarine. She would wear the sarees for special occasions, and she would be the most beautiful mother in the world.’
Isn’t that beautiful? And to think he sent me this text per SMS! I think receiving messages like that is definitely one of the perks of being friends with a writer..
Ernest van der Kwast had his breakthrough with ‘Mama Tandoori’ (2010), a hilarious and moving novel about his Indian mother. It sold more than 100.000 copies, no mean feat in a small country like Holland. His sixth novel, De IJsmakers (The ice cream makers) is out now.
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From the Erasmus Bridge and the Mercedes-Benz Museum to Qatar’s metro network; Ben van Berkel’s iconic landmarks bring people together in rapturous beauty, again and again. I talked with the Dutch architect and educator about sensuality, ‘healthy’ buildings and the remarkable parallels between our designs.
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Don’t ignore your emotions; they are much more powerful than you can imagine. By linking the magical world of emotions with hard science, Dutch scientist Pierre Capel, professor emeritus in experimental immunology, shows us the consequences of our feelings and the power of our minds. The message: we can do much more than we think. “Meditate. It’s the single best thing you can do for your health.”
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Keto curious?
The fact that I feel bikini-confident all year round is, of course, a nice bonus. But for me, the biggest payoff of following the keto diet is the way it optimizes my health and gives me tons of energy.
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‘If you can’t eat it, why put it on your skin?’. I pretty much live by this beauty adage. After all, with your skin being one of your body’s largest organs, anything – and I mean anything! – you put onto your skin will end up in your bloodstream.
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Maison Marlies blog
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