A LEGACY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
A Century of Catalan Tradition
The story of our textiles begins over 150 years ago in the French Pyrenees. In the small, sun-drenched village of Saint-Laurent-de-Cerdans, a unique weaving tradition was born. Originally, this craftsmanship was the backbone of the region's famous espadrille industry, where over 300 artisans transformed raw jute, linen, and cotton into the sturdy, striped canvases that define Catalan culture.
The Revival: Les Toiles du Soleil
While many traditional factories disappeared over time, the Sans & Garcerie manufacture (founded in 1897) was preserved and reborn as Les Toiles du Soleil. Today, it remains the last of its kind. Using the same vintage Diederichs shuttle looms from the 19th century, the factory continues to produce the authentic "shuttle-woven" selvedge—a continuous, finished edge that guarantees unparalleled strength and a refined finish that modern machines simply cannot replicate.
The Art of the Weave
Our fabrics are a symphony of color and geometry. Each design is meticulously reconstructed from historical archives, yet reimagined for the modern home.
- The Warp & The Weft: The magic lies in the intersection of perpendicular threads. By carefully separating the vertical 'warp' yarns, the horizontal 'weft' is passed through, creating a dense, high-quality canvas.
- A Palette of the Sun: Using a base of 35 vibrant colors, our weavers combine threads to create an infinite spectrum of stripes, reflecting the light and landscape of the Mediterranean.
A Living Heritage
Recognised by the French government as an Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company), Les Toiles du Soleil represents an elite level of artisanal excellence. At Ici et Là, we are proud to be the exclusive stewards of this tradition in Australia and New Zealand, bringing these timeless, sun-drenched stripes from the mountains of France to the homes of the Southern Hemisphere.
