Day 1: The Secrets of Paris Revealed
Bonjour Lisa,
I’m so excited for our textile adventures to begin as we step into the heart of Paris for a journey of discovery, creativity, and connection. I have a wonderful week in store for you; an unforgettable experience that blends Parisian culture, fashion and textile heritage, and shared inspiration with an intimate group of fellow textile enthusiasts. Fantastique!
À très bientôt,
Rebecca
Tissus Market
Le Sentier was traditionally the centre of cloth merchants in Paris, at Rue de Mulhouse, Rue de Clery and Rue de Jeuneurs a small concentration of them remain. A good place to start is Tissus Market, one of the best kept secrets in Paris!
There are two stores here, specialising in remnant Haute Couture fabrics. The first is dedicated to silks, cashmere and printed fabrics. The second has all other fabrics, bolts of pleated organzas still in their crepe paper, bouclé knits, disco lamé, velvets, cottons, linens and then at the very back, a pile of the softest leathers.
Au Ver à Soie
The highlight of the tour is the exclusive visit to Au Ver à Soie, a family run business that has manufactured the finest silk threads for 200 years. The showroom is normally open to industry professionals only; Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent.
Rebecca will bring guests to enjoy a behind-the-scenes visit to discover the history of silk from the experts! The floor to ceiling shelves are lined with carefully labelled boxes filled with lustrous silk threads in hundreds of colours. Nathalie, the 5th generation of the Au Ver à Soie family will greet guests and after a fascinating presentation in English, we will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase silk threads for machine sewing and embroidery directly from the source!
There are two stores here, specialising in remnant Haute Couture fabrics. The first is
dedicated to silks, cashmere and printed fabrics. The second has all other fabrics, bolts of
pleated organzas still in their crepe paper, bouclé knits, disco lamé, velvets, cottons, linens
and then at the very back, a pile of the softest leathers.
General Diff
If you don’t find what you’re looking for in Tissus Market then it must be in General Diff! A family-run business, from father to daughter, with 40 years’ experience, they are renowned for their excellent customer service. A team of haute couture enthusiasts are on hand to advise and guide clients through projects and purchases.
Their showroom has an impressive three floors with fabrics sourced from the finest French and Italian textile mills. Silk, Lace, Wool, Cotton, and Linen, it’s the secret supply of many a discerning Parisian couturière!
Fried Freres
The hidden jewel of Paris, Fried Freres has added sparkling details to extravagant couture gowns since the 19th century. A dizzying selection of beads, sequins and rhinestones, they have recently opened their doors to retail. Clients can enjoy a moment of true treasure hunting, drawers filled with pompoms of glistening seed beads, bags of sunshine sequins and sachets of twinkling rhinestones.
Textile Tours of Paris, 2nd Arrondissement, Paris, France
