Each month, Voyageuses highlights a "Creative Traveler" inspired by crafts or cultures from here and elsewhere.

Sumaiya was born and raised in Mumbai, lived in Tunisia, and now resides in Paris. For the past 13 years, for her eponymous womenswear brand, Sumaiya Merchant , she has drawn inspiration from Indian and Tunisian cultures, working with artisans possessing ancestral skills to create conscious and sustainable fashion.

I met Sumaiya at a pop-up shop we both attended last February. I immediately loved her blend of cultures, especially since I find Mumbai and Tunis so inspiring, and I absolutely adored her Tunisian babouche slippers embroidered in India! They perfectly combine the comfort and effortless style of the babouche with the refined detail of Indian embroidery. The velvet is hand-embroidered in India and then crafted into babouches in Tunis.

Bombay by Sumaiya:

1. What does the city of Bombay offer you?

Living in Mumbai really prepares you to face any major city in the world. Adapting to Paris was never a challenge, but I miss Mumbai for its unique contrasts — its ability to shift in an instant from absolute simplicity to dazzling grandeur.

2. A place:

I really like the fabric and embroidery markets in Mumbai — they have a unique charm.

3. A restaurant:

My new favorite among the countless restaurants in Mumbai is called Nara , a superb Thai restaurant.

4. A souvenir to bring back:

Good Earth is undoubtedly my favorite shop in Mumbai; every visit is a unique experience, a journey for the senses.

I always have a weakness for handmade textiles — in curtains, cushions or small decorative touches.

Sumaiya was born and raised in Mumbai, lived in Tunisia, and now resides in Paris. For the past 13 years, for her eponymous womenswear brand, Sumaiya Merchant , she has drawn inspiration from Indian and Tunisian cultures, working with artisans possessing ancestral skills to create conscious and sustainable fashion.

I met Sumaiya at a pop-up shop we both attended last February. I immediately loved her blend of cultures, especially since I find Mumbai and Tunis so inspiring, and I absolutely adored her Tunisian babouche slippers embroidered in India! They perfectly combine the comfort and effortless style of the babouche with the refined detail of Indian embroidery. The velvet is hand-embroidered in India and then crafted into babouches in Tunis.

Bombay by Sumaiya:

1. What does the city of Bombay offer you?

Living in Mumbai really prepares you to face any major city in the world. Adapting to Paris was never a challenge, but I miss Mumbai for its unique contrasts — its ability to shift in an instant from absolute simplicity to dazzling grandeur.

2. A place:

I really like the fabric and embroidery markets in Mumbai — they have a unique charm.

3. A restaurant:

My new favorite among the countless restaurants in Mumbai is called Nara , a superb Thai restaurant.

4. A souvenir to bring back:

Good Earth is undoubtedly my favorite shop in Mumbai; every visit is a unique experience, a journey for the senses.

I always have a weakness for handmade textiles — in curtains, cushions or small decorative touches.

Muriel creates timeless cashmere pieces worthy of the finest fashion houses, crafted by artisans in Nepal whom she has come to know by visiting at least twice a year for the past 20 years. She has forged strong bonds with these artisans, immersing herself in their culture and expertise. Her passion, her creative process inspired by her encounters, and her commitment to ethical production make her a true traveler.

Together, during a magnificent trip to Kathmandu, we imagined the "Paisley" cashmere scarf, a Naram by Voyageuses creation.

His favorite things about Nepal:

1. Why do you like Kathmandu so much? I immediately felt at ease in this bustling city, completely disoriented yet at home, and then so amazed by the materials, these fabulous cashmeres.
2. A place: The Shechen monastery where I met Matthieu Ricard.
3. A restaurant: The Swotha cafe in the Patan district.
4. A hotel: The Katmandu Guest House
5. A souvenir to bring back: The Ganesh pendants that I decided to have made. I never take mine off.
6. Anything else to add? These timeless moments that I wish everyone could experience: Waking up early in Bhaktapur and discovering the city in the early morning. And the Cham dances, a religious performance by Tibetan monks in the Shechen Monastery.

Stéphanie, a Frenchwoman and avid traveler, is the founder of the home linen brand Studio Noosh. We met while both living in Shanghai, each launching our own brands fueled by the country's unique energy and the challenges of entrepreneurship. Drawing on her experience in e-commerce, Stéphanie moved to Shanghai in 2018 and created Studio Noosh in 2020. She still lives there today and embodies the French art of living, sharing her love of fine dining and drawing inspiration from local culture, which she reinvents using high-quality linen carefully sourced in Europe.

His favorites in China

1. Why do you like China/Shanghai so much?
I'm happy to have discovered China through my own lens, rather than the often reductive one conveyed by the European media. On a daily basis, I appreciate the practical, efficient, and pragmatic nature of life here. The Chinese never stop. They move forward, find solutions, innovate—an energy that perfectly matches my own personality.
Shanghai is a fascinating city: dynamic, international, bold, but paradoxically very human. A metropolis of over 26 million inhabitants, which at times gives me the impression of a large village.
I have been fortunate enough to travel through several regions, from Yunnan to Ningxia, from Tibet to Xinjiang, each with its own unique landscapes, traditions, and craftsmanship. It is an endless journey of extraordinary cultural diversity.

2. A place: The Bund. It's a place absolutely unique in the world: on one side, the futuristic towers of Pudong symbolizing modern China; on the other, the historic Art Deco and Neoclassical buildings dating from the early 20th century, a legacy of Shanghai's international concessions. A stroll along the Bund at sunset encapsulates the very soul of the city, a blend of past and future, East and West.

3. A restaurant: Sichuan Citizen, in the former French Concession. The menu is varied, colorful, and flavorful—an excellent introduction to Sichuan cuisine. Their sweet and sour soup is a real treat, as is their signature cocktail, the “Basil Drop”!

4. A hotel: The Peninsula, on the Bund. A place of rare elegance, where refinement meets history.
I love its spectacular skyline views, its historic building, its interiors inspired by 1920s Shanghai's Art Deco style, and the cocktails at the Sir Ellis bar. A tribute to bygone glamour. A perfect place to experience the timeless charm of Shanghai, both past and present.

5. A souvenir to bring back: A blue and white porcelain pot, historically used to store and transport tea or precious spices.
Today, it is often repurposed as a vase or lamp base. It is a truly timeless chinoiserie.

6. Anything else to add? Yes, I would like to invite everyone to come and discover China for themselves.
To move beyond clichés, to open our eyes and hearts wide.
Recently, a visa is no longer required for a one-month trip: so now is the perfect time to venture there.
This country is rich in over 5,000 years of history, traditions, arts, and encounters. It is a fascinating, vibrant, profoundly human culture that inspires me every day in my work and my vision of beauty.