"When that 'little black dress' is not enough ... SHANGRILA!"
The Unisex Middle Eastern Charmeuse Kaftan for Men or Women
Feel like the Sheik of Arabie is Shangri-La's rich Middle Eastern inspired robes!
In addition to the Peruvian style Ruana, Spanish word for an outer cape garment made from flat often rectangular pieces of fabric, Shangri-La also designs a unique line of Middle Eastern style Kaftans, modelled on the traditional male caftan from Saudi Arabia. In cold mountainous regions of South America, traditional ruanas were made from woven wool. In Saudi Arabia, caftans were made of wool or cotton, and sometimes even silk.
At Shangri-La, we make our Kaftan capes from vividly colorful silk velvet devore (charmeuse) and thus take this simple traditional muslim Arab garment to a new level of fashion. This style is suitable for both men and women, although it is traditionally a male garment, as are ponchos which traditionally have a 16 inch neck opening.
TESTIMONIAL
The following letter was written by a satisfied customer on 11 May 2005:
"I have enclosed a photo in which I wear the deautiful robe-garment I recently purchased from you. While I mostly enjoy its luxurious feel when inside my home, you can see by the picture that it travels in the garden as well.
"I have never before considered purchasing what some might think to be a ladies wear item. But, the beauty and design of the fabric seemed to me to have almost a spiritual significance, and this placed it into a class of art in clothing which reaches beyond gender, and touches more on the nature of the person who desires to wear it.
"Upon first wearing the robe, I was immediately reminded of an incident in my life, many years ago, when I spent a week with Swami Rama, the former spiritual leader of India. At the end of my visit he asked to meet privately, and after conversing he suddenly reached for a hand-carved cane which had upon it a solid gold handle. He offered this to me as a parting gift, saying 'We will be friends on the higher plane. Are you ready for this?' Knowing I was not ready, I declined the cane, and thanked him for the opportunity to know my current state through the experience.
"The robe I purchased from you is for me the equivalent of the gold-adorned cane Swami Rama offered me. It's beauty is subtle and profound, as was the cane and the occassion which brought it forth. What is different is that I feel I am ready for the robe today, and perhaps the cane as well, and I wearit happily when I am relaxing, because it reminds me of my better self.
"I wish you well in your ventures, and in your life altogether,
[signed]
Edward E. Loewe, Ph. D.
Silk Robes
The Chinese are also famous for producing the finest quality of silk handpainted robes. We have a wonderful selection available at Shangri-La. Here is a sample of styles currently available.
Click HERE to see a video clip from Shangri-La's Spring 2005 Fashion Show exhibit of many different ways to wear a ruana! This video clip shows a wide range of how women can wear ruanas in both casual and elegant settings.
Click HERE to see a video clip of You Min Gosline showing 20 different ways to wear a ruana! Shangri-La made this instructional video about a year ago, in the Spring of 2004. This is a fantastic reference resource that you should bookmark! Warning: The download time is long, especially if you have dial up internet service.
TESTIMONIAL
The following letter was written by a satisfied customer on 10 May 2005:
"On a recent visit to Ithaca, my girlfriend and I were 'oohing and aahing' over the beautiful clothes in your shop. Dr. Loewe was with us also, and fater some prompting he agreed to try on a beautiful teal robe he had been admiring. When I turned around to see him in it, I fully expected to laugh a bit, but instead I was stunned. The garment looked like it should belong to him - as though it was made for him. It made him look wise and sexy at the same time! I would not be surprised to learn that you sell as many of this item to men as to women.
Best wishes
[signed]
Nan Burnett
One never really knows who might happen to wander into Shangri-La here in Ithaca, NY. In May of 2005 we were visited several times by the noted mathematician Sir Erik Christopher Zeeman. His father, Christian Zeeman, from Aarhus in eastern Jutland, Denmark, had provided James Hilton with the conceptual source for the novel Lost Horizon while on an ocean cruise. So it is only fitting that his son discovered our own Shangri-La! Chris Zeeman, his wife Rosemary and daughter Mary Lou had fun as we designed fashions for them! As Chris Zeeman has been quoted, "Technical skill is mastery of complexity while creativity is mastery of simplicity" - we strive for both here at Shangri-La in Ithaca, NY.
Left to Right :
Sheldon Gosline,
Min You Gosline,
Rosemary Zeeman,
Sir Erik Christopher Zeeman, and
Mary Lou Zeeman.
