Textile Tales from Paris
Oh là là - Textile Tales from Paris is back! An enchanting series of beautifully illustrated online talks that unravel the fascinating story of how luxury textiles and fashion became woven into the fabric of Paris.
Step into a world of Kings and Queens, Emperors and Empresses, Fashion and Finance Ministers, Pandora Dolls and Midinettes—an intriguing cast of characters brought to life and dazzling in their extravagant finery, bien sûr. Travel through time from ancient Chinese dynasties and the Roman Empire to Medieval markets and the golden glory of Versailles; from the cobbled streets of Montmartre to the intoxicating extravagance of Belle Époque Paris. Follow French fashion—and its famously uncomfortable underwear—from the flirtatious Rococo to the fire of the French Revolution, from the birth of Haute Couture to the wild folly of the Roaring Twenties, and the timeless elegance of Christian Dior’s revolutionary New Look of the 1950s.
Along the way, we’ll meet master artisans; couturièrs, milliners, lace-makers, embroiderers, flower-makers, feather-workers, fan-makers, spinsters, silk weavers, fabric printers and royal painters. We’ll glimpse inside their ateliers to reveal the secrets of these magnificent crafts: the tools, techniques, embellishments, and shimmering wonders that bring Parisian dreams to life. Forgotten by history, their extraordinary savoir-faire has continued through the centuries and ensures that Paris remains the capital of luxury textiles and fashion today.
“What a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening - being transported back to La Belle Époque and other times! Rebecca’s evocative descriptions and faultless knowledge combine to create a fascinating series of talks that have sent me scurrying back to Zola and Colette to catch glimpses of the world and people she mentions.”
-Jerry, 2022
Course Description
Join me on Sunday evenings for a cosy moment of storytelling, as I spin these wonderful tales, beautifully illustrated and lovingly researched. You can relax with a lovely cup of tea, embroider, knit or daydream as we travel together to Paris in bygone times.
Textile Tales from Paris is a year-long course and the subscription cost is €25 per month for 10 monthly sessions. The series will be hosted on Zoom on the last Sunday evening of each month from 7pm to 8pm Paris time in 2026. Magnifique!
Woven Wanderings is a series of Parisian itineraries that bring the Textile Tales to life in modern day Paris; hidden boutiques, overlooked museums, forgotten statues. I created Woven Wanderings for those of you who hope to make your daydreams come true, travel to Paris and enjoy all my favourite textile treasures. They will be available as downloadable pdfs and I can’t wait to share them with you! If you would like to add Woven Wanderings to your course the subscription cost will be €30 per month for 10 monthly sessions.
Dates for your diary are Sunday: 25th January, 22nd February, 29th March, 26th April, 31st May, 28th June, 26th July, No session in August, 27th September, 25th October, 29th November, No session in December.
Each talk will be recorded and you will receive a link to the recording to watch again at your leisure for as long as the internet exists! You will also enjoy access to a private student webpage where you will receive notes for each lecture, with links to artists, artisans, books, podcasts, documentaries, films, museums, libraries and lots more fascinating rabbit-holes! I’ll be adding French vocabulary to our monthly musings as well. Oh la, la!
Textile Tales from Paris is perfect for fashion and history enthusiasts, textile and craft lovers, makers and creatives, Francophiles, armchair travellers and Paris dreamers. Read on for a little glimpse of the Textile Tales from Paris course outline and some frequently asked questions…
Course Outline
The Origins of Haute Couture: From Opéra to Le Sentier
The intriguing history of luxury textiles and fashion is revealed through the geography of the winding streets and wide boulevards of Paris. Travelling from Opéra to Le Sentier, we meet kings, politicians, spies cloth merchants, milliners, glove-makers, feather-workers, embroiderers and the fiercely independent Midinettes.
From an Empress to a Marquise: The Legendary Journey of Embroidery
The story of Haute Couture embroidery is fascinating, it begins long ago, like all good stories, with a curious Empress in an ancient Chinese dynasty and travels across the Silk Trade Routes and the Ottoman Empire until it finally reaches the Marquis de Pompadour at the Royal Court in Versailles.
Tickled Pink: The Hidden World of Artisanal Craft
For the love of savoir-faire we discover the marvellous world of paruriers, the talented artisans who craft the buttons, fans, gloves, silk flowers and even feathers that feature in Haute Couture fashion. Chanel established Paraffection to preserve their exquisite talents and showcase their work annually at the exclusive Métiers d’Art fashion show.
Fashion Merchants, Ministers & Miniatures
The tale begins with Rose Bertin who was promoted from working as a fashion merchant in Paris to being the Minister of Fashion for Queen Marie Antoinette at Versailles. Her coveted dress designs travelled across Europe on tiny, exquisite Pandora dolls.
Midinettes: The Forgotten Women Behind the Masterful Needlework
These fiercely independent young women from Montmartre and Belleville worked in the luxurious boutiques at Rue de la Paix and Opéra at the turn of the 20th century. Sequestered in the ateliers of Paris, they created the magnificent Haute Couture fashions worn by royalty, aristocracy and the elite.
Fashion Changes but Style Endures
When Marie Antoinette wore the Chemise dress to the Royal Court at Versailles she caused quite the controversy! Her courtesans and critics alike had forgotten that this classic style was the favourite of the Ancient Greek Muses. They were blissfully unaware that its graceful lines would endure, inspiring two of the 20th century’s greatest fashion designers, Madame Grès & Madeleine Vionnet.
A Sprinkling of Fairy Dust
In the Haute Couture ateliers of Paris they whisper that embroiderers have the touch of fairies, their embroidered embellishments twinkle with a savoir-faire fit for fairy-godmothers. Every embroiderer has a trousse, a little case containing tools made by the best artisans in France. And every embroidery atelier has a stockroom, treasure troves of threads, beads, sequins, and rhinestones, used to create gowns fit for fairytales. Parisian embroiderers are known to be secretive, but some secrets are worth sharing!
The Queen of Lace
Let’s continue the tale of extravagant embellishments in Haute Couture fashion with Lace - the cause of many an aristocratic household budget to flounder! We’ll travel to Venice and Belgium to trace the origins of needle and bobbin lace, then visit the Queen of Lace in Alençon and continue on to Chantilly, unravelling yet another tale of exquisite artisanal craft and savoir-faire in France!
Pretty in Print: From Pondicherry to Provence
Madame de Pompadour adored chintz imported from India and Queen Marie Antoinette permitted the royal painters of Versailles to design prints for the nearby Jouy-en-Josas manufactory. We’ll trace the rich legacy of patterned cloth in France as we travel south to Provence, and then visit the Museum of Printed Textiles and Toile de Jouy. Returning to Paris, the heritage and savoir-faire of printed cottons continue with Pierre Frey and Antoinette Poisson.
10. The Fairytale of French Fashions and the Underwear that Shaped Them!
With the flick of a magic wand, fashions at Versailles could change and so too did the ideals of beauty; a tiny waist, a full bosom, a curvaceous derrière. The craftspeople who made the stays, corsets, crinolines and paniers were kept busy, right up until Christian Dior’s New Look in the 1950’s.
Textile Tales from Paris
Reviews
Textile Tales from Paris
Frequently Asked Questions
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Textile Tales from Paris is a year-long series of beautifully illustrated online talks exploring the fascinating history of textiles, fashion, and Parisian culture. Rebecca will share her love of Paris as each session blends storytelling, research, and visual delight—perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea, some stitching, or simple daydreaming.
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The talks take place on the last Sunday evening of each month, from 7–8pm Paris time, throughout 2026. There are 10 live sessions in total.
There is no session in August or December. -
Sunday:
January 25
February 22
March 29
April 26
May 31
June 28
July 26
August – no session
September 27
October 25
November 29
December – no session
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€25 – Textile Tales from Paris
€30 – Textile Tales from Paris plus Woven Wanderings
Both options include access to all 10 sessions.
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Of course! We will be sad to see you go, but you can end your subscription anytime. You will continue to have access to the Textile Tales you paid for, but will not enjoy the talks that follow.
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Yes! If you’re unable to commit to the full year, each talk will be available for individual purchase after the live session. This is a lovely option if a particular topic captures your imagination. The individual talks will be €25 with the option to add-on all the resources for €30 and Woven Wanderings for €35.
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All sessions are hosted live on Zoom. You’ll receive instructions and reminders before each event.
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Yes! Every talk will be recorded, and you’ll receive a link to watch again at your leisure, for as long as the internet exists.
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You’ll also receive access to a private student webpage with:
Lecture notes
Links to artists and artisans
Book, podcast, film, and documentary recommendations
Museum and library resources
Extra historical and inspirational “rabbit-holes”
Monthly French vocabulary to expand your Parisian flair
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Woven Wanderings is a series of downloadable Parisian itineraries that bring the Textile Tales to life in modern-day Paris. They feature:
Hidden boutiques
Overlooked museums
Forgotten statues
Favourite textile treasures
It’s designed for those who hope to turn their daydreams into real Paris adventures.
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Yes! Woven Wanderings will be available for purchase after each Textile Tale from Paris. They will be €10 for each downloadable PDF.
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Not at all! These talks are designed for curious beginners, makers, fashion lovers, and Paris dreamers alike. No academic background is required—just enthusiasm!
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Just yourself! A cup of tea is highly recommended! You’re also welcome to knit, sew, embroider, or simply relax and listen.
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This series is perfect for:
Textile lovers
Fashion and history enthusiasts
Makers and creatives
Francophiles
Armchair travellers and Paris dreamers