A Trip to Provence

I had the opportunity to travel recently throughout the Provence region of France. With unparalleled design expeditions, I was immersed in a region that has inspired thousands of artisans.

Traditional Fabric Printing

One of the highlights of the trip was a tour of Les Olivades, a renowned French textile house celebrated for its mastery of traditional fabric printing techniques. We learned about traditional screen printing, rotary printing and digital printing of fabrics.

The designs of Les Olivades are deeply inspired by the natural beauty and vibrant colors of Provence. From sunflowers and olives to vivid geometric patterns, each print reflects the region’s essence. The use of bold, bright colors—sunny yellows, deep blues, and rich reds—captures the light and warmth of southern France.

Another highlight was dyeing textiles with woad, a yellow-flowered European plant grown as a source of blue dye, led by master woad cultivator and dyer Denise Lambert of L’Atelier des Bleus Pastel d’Occitanie. We learned the art of shibori dyeing and tried several techniques to magically transform our white fabrics into one-of-a-kind patterns.

 

Savoring Good Food & Wine

In contrast to the beautiful countryside in Provence, my few days in Paris were spent walking the streets of Le Marais, Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter. Everywhere I looked throughout the city, I saw people picnicking, dining, drinking and talking …. savoring good food and good wine!

The French have an artist’s eye and a flair for presentation and in everything they do … the way they set their table, the way they plate their food, the way they assemble an outfit. You hear the word voilà a lot in France, like when a clerk hands you a perfectly wrapped package or a server sets a perfectly plated meal in front of you. Window displays, storefronts and even many brasseries in Paris are works of art.

The French have truly mastered l’art de vivre and I experienced it during my visit to France and introduction to the French culture!