13.000 threads
13.000 threads
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Calixte and Anastasie Lartigue founded in the small town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, in the French Basque Country, one of the region’s first weaving workshops. Since then, four generations of weavers have been in charge of keeping this tradition alive. A tradition that, while adapting to changes, to this day continues to form part of the region’s culture.
For the first decades, the couple mainly manufactured espadrilles and berets for the inhabitants of the nearby villages – garments that were already quite a fashion trend in the Paris of the time. Years later, their great-grandson Philippe founded the brand Lartigue 1910 with a new business model that consisted of opening the workshop’s doors to those who wanted to discover the art of weaving. This tradition has been kept alive and moved to the current location of the company’s headquarters in Ascain, where the shop and atelier are naturally interwoven.
With the passage of time, and thanks to the company’s skillful sewing, the brand has built a universe made up of all kinds of products: tablecloths, bath towels, covers for electronic devices, bags, suitcases, outdoor cover accessories, custom fabrics, and –of course– the berets and espadrilles, the same as ever. Some of their creations include the colors inherent to Basque culture (red, green, and white) in their design, while others feature combinations from a richer, more creative palette.
The company’s creations are put on display and sold in their boutiques at Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz; however, those interested in delving into the history of the brand and its manufacturing method must visit their atelier in Ascain. With the help of the workshop’s guides, visitors will get to know the entire creative process: from the original idea right down to the last stitch, while also coming to understand how complex it is to prepare more than 13,000 threads one by one, so that a single fabric can be made – a task that combines technique, culture, and excellence.
Lartigue 1910
Rue Larre Lore, Ascain.
Tel.: +33 5 59 26 81 81
