|
 TM
WWII ‘Escape Maps’ Inspire
Entrepreneur
to Create Novel Fashion Accessory
How an IT Consultant came
to design
a best selling range of silk scarves
By Estelle Plous
 Bodo Hornberger is the designer of a
best selling range of silk scarves – ‘Map Scarves’ (www.mapscarves.com)
which feature detailed maps of London, Paris, Rome, New York and Washington
DC – and one half of successful fashion accessory design duo TASARAM.
However, this former IT Consultant is still reluctant to introduce himself
as a ‘fashion designer’. “People usually laugh”, he admits. “I don’t fit
people’s image of a fashion designer!”
He is indeed an unlikely candidate
for the role, with no previous design experience and, until recently, little
interest in the world of fashion and accessories. He first became involved,
he explains, when his wife Lucy, an art historian and his partner in TASARAM,
designed her first range of silk scarves. Called in to help with the
technical side of the design process, Bodo admits that his enthusiasm for
the idea was initially limited. But that changed when he saw the finished
products. “I was very impressed”, he admits, “and I started to wonder if I
could come up with my own idea for a scarf range”.
By chance, it was a visit to
London’s Imperial War Museum that provided the inspiration he was seeking.
Among the exhibits was a silk ‘escape map’ – such maps of enemy territory
were part of the ‘escape and evasion’ kit issued to Allied Airmen during
WWII. “I immediately saw that this was a great idea for a range of scarves”,
says Bodo, “but rather than guiding downed Airmen out of enemy territory,
TASARAM’s Map Scarves would guide tourists around the world’s great cities.”
 “Map Scarves feature not only each
city’s major sights and attractions, but also smaller ones that aren’t so
well known,” he explains. “For example, the Paris Map Scarf naturally shows
the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, but you’ll also discover lots
of lesser known gems such as the Musée de la Parfumerie (Perfume Museum).”
The design work involved extensive reading and even trips to several of the
cities for ‘ground research’. “I’m now such an expert on each of our
featured cities that I could work as a tour guide,” he quips.
As a result, Map Scarves are more
than just a fun and very wearable fashion accessory – they are also perfect
for getting a feel for a city, identifying places to visit and figuring out
the nearest metro station. Despite strong competition from the other cities
in the range, Paris is the best seller on both sides of the Atlantic. “Our
customers buy Map Scarves of the cities they love the most,” says Bodo, “and
based on our experience Paris is still the city closest to very many
people’s hearts.”
 TASARAM Map Scarves are available
from
www.mapscarves.com. Featured cities are: London, Paris, Rome, New York
and Washington DC. The San Francisco Map Scarf will be available early 2004
and scarves in the planning stage include Los Angeles and Venice.
Map Scarves are 100% silk twill with
hand-rolled edges, measure 34 x 34 inches (85 x 85 cm) and come in an
attractive gift box. They retail at $69 (£45, Euro 69) and are shipped
worldwide.
About TASARAM:
TASARAM was founded by husband and
wife team Lucy and Bodo Hornberger in 2002. The name ‘tasaram’ comes from
the Sanskrit word for “shuttle for weaving silk”. TASARAM’s Asian Art Scarf
range is available from
www.tasaram.com.
Back to
TravelLady Magazine |
