Year: 2000

By Jill Symington As I stand in line trying to decide what movie to watch—it’s not like there are any television previews for Bollywood films—the lady behind the counter clears her throat. She is impatiently waiting for my money. A group of girls beside me decide to see Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai because “the guy’s […]

By Tania Pereira The customs and cultures of the East are the latest fads to hit North America. Things like mehndi, yoga and meditation, which are all the rage among celebrities, aren’t meant to make you look good. But sometimes things get lost in the translation. Mehndi, also known as henna, is an ancient form […]

By Nicole Lampa As the sounds of the sitar and subtle beats of a drum and bass fill the shop, customers run their fingers over embroidered slippers, sheer scarves, beaded necklaces and floral or gold-printed sarongs. Those who aren’t aware of the latest fashion trends would think Le Chateau was becoming culturally sensitive. In the […]

Then last fall, Asian culture invaded Western home decor as Eastern-inspired housewares and furniture appearing on store shelves and made their into our kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and even patios.

The popular arrival of ethnicity in fashion began about three years ago with none other than ageless trend-setter Madonna in her video Frozen. Peeking out from underneath long black sleeves were Madonna’s hands covered in mendhi (henna).

It stems from an Eastern philosophy that believes the cosmos are made of complementary energies. The yin (female element) must be in harmony and balance with the yang (male element). These energies, called chi, must be balanced in all things throughout the world, especially in human beings.

No busy urban woman can be content unless she owns at least three light silk shirts in bright colours, preferably with the intricate gold edging found mostly on saris. These skirts are just crying out to be paired with handkerchief tops in similar fabrics, or tight three-quarter length shirts with Japanese characters on the front.

A staple of North American sushi bars, the California roll, created in—you guessed it—the U.S., is a typical blending of eastern-style food with Western preferences. Sushi is traditionally considered the marriage of vinegary rice with raw fish.