Bursts of red, blue, green and yellow velvet burst from a large gold cross flocked onto a humble unbleached wool gabardine: artist Jean-Charles de Castelbajac unveils the new liturgical vestments for Notre-Dame de Paris, which will be unveiled at the cathedral's reopening ceremony on 7 December. "I wanted ornaments that would create a sense of closeness, that would speak to children and history buffs alike," explains the designer, known for his use of primary colours, for whom this commission from the Church is an “extraordinary achievement”. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES