Eric Charles-Donatien is the artistic director at Lemarié, the top purveyor of feathers to the high-fashion industry. Interview by Nathalie Tourret.

Download to your computer or phone

To download the PDF and the recordings, click here.

Listen online

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 1
Introduction. Eric Charles-Donatien is the artistic director at Lemarié, a company specialized in haute-couture.

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 2
The big question: what is a “plumassier?” We hear the word “plume” (feather) in there…

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 3
So, how did you choose this career? How did you end up working for Monsieur Lemarié?

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 4
With which fashion houses does Lemarié collaborate?

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 5
How does a new project or a new order from Dior, for example, work? We learn that the real problem is to understand the designer’s idea and to start working on responses to that idea without having seen the finished shape of the garment or clothing article. ‘You have to respond with your tools and techniques while staying within the stylistic vocabulary and universe of the creator who is requesting your services.

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 6
Where do you get the feathers?

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 7
What makes a good feather? When you look at a feather with an eye towards using it in fashion, what qualities does it need to have?

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 8
How much do feathers cost. Monsieur Charles-Donatien helps us understand that the feathers themselves are usually not expensive.

Un Plumassier à Paris, Track 9
So is this a typically Parisian industry? What is the future of the fashion feathers industry?