A Textile Journey to the South of France
Woven through the landscapes, towns and traditions of the South of France is a remarkable textile story, shaped by centuries of trade, craft and creativity. From the vivid printed cottons of Provence to the fine woollen cloths of the Sorgue valley, from the intricate stitches of Boutis to the elegant costume of the Arlésienne, cloth has long been part of the cultural fabric of the region.
Only 12 places are available on the Textile Travels to the South of France retreat. Please register your interest by October 15th to apply for your spot on this immersive textile journey.
Our textile retreat follows these Provençal threads, uncovering the stories, materials, techniques and traditions that have shaped its distinctive textile identity. As our journey unfolds, we visit museums and historic collections, meet artisans who continue to practise traditional crafts, explore specialist shops and antique markets, and discover the extraordinary textiles and fashions that reveal the unique and vibrant character of this region.
Dates: October 7th - 14th, 2027
Cost: $The celebrated Hôtel Nord-Pinus is our home for the week, in the heart of the charming and evocative Arles, overlooking the beautiful Place du Forum—the square famously captured by Vincent van Gogh in Café Terrace at Night. Arles has a particularly rich relationship with textiles and costume, while the city’s colours, traditions and characters have inspired generations of artists and designers.
Following the Threads
Throughout our journey, textiles become a way of reading the South of France: its landscapes, its history, its culture and its people. Rather than existing at the margins of French textile history, Provence was a place where global materials and ideas were transformed through local knowledge and craft—a fascinating history of cultural exchange that is thrilling to unravel.
Based in beautiful Arles, we weave together museums, historic towns, textile collections, antique markets, traditional crafts, specialist shops and encounters with passionate people who continue to keep these traditions alive. This is a journey into the textile soul of the South of France—a celebration of cloth, colour, pattern and craft, and of the remarkable stories woven through them.
