ARTISANS
Hello, my name is Valentina and I am the founder of Studio Oltramar.
I am an Italian - Croatian interior designer from the region of Istria (Croatia). After living, studying, and working in different places in Europe (Florence, Milano, Paris, Bern, Barcelona) few years ago I moved with my partner in the south of France near Aix-En-Provence. Here I discovered the bubbling world of natural dyes, and the ancestral technique of INDIGO DYE which immediately conquered my entire essence. For me indigo dyeing is like swimming, diving, smelling, listening, looking, … at the Sea, our primary source, the infinite source of life. I was born and I grew up by the sea in the small fisherman village of Novigrad - Cittanova, and the emotions provoked by the sea is something that I bring with me wherever I go. I am a devote child of the Mediterranean Sea which is my majeure source of inspiration. When I am in contact with the Sea, time and space dissolve and this feeling of eternity and suspension in time is what I want to infuse into my garments and object editions. They should act as marine sanctuaries.
While I was working as a retail designer for a big brand in Switzerland in 2016, I was developing my firs garment project WOOL&COTTON, but soon I realised I was not ready and that something was missing. Again, designing and delegating the craft part to someone else was something that I was not feeling comfortable with. When I left my beloved colleagues and my beautiful life in Barcelona in 2019 for the unknown south of France I bumped into INDIGO and for the first time I felt crystal clear what I want to do in my life. I didn’t know what or how exactly, but I started learning with great dyers all around France: Couleur Garance, Michel Garcia, David Santandreu. I had the privilege to work with Francoise Carayol (indigo dyer from Lautrec), Juliette Vergne (natural dyes textile designer in Mulhouse) and Le champ des couleurs (Laura and Amandine producers of natural dyes in La Roque d’Antheron). Little by little, thanks to the people I met and the hard work I was doing with myself wanting to discover more about my true self, I ended up polish my intentions and desires. After 2 years OLTRAMAR was born in a spring afternoon while sitting and meditating on a beach, and I have the feeling it was there with me since ever.
Although I am solo today at my studio for me Oltramar is the passion, skills, and smiles of a lot of professionals, and this is why I refer to OLTRAMAR as WE, and not as I. Here you can get to know more about some of my dearest friends and co-workers.
MYRIAM SAID
Is a polyvalent maker in a contemporary and traditional way. She is a patternmaker which merges the field of new technologies as CAO and 3D together with craft practices as indigo dye,sashiko,embroiedery and mending. Her rich background gained during many years working for big fashion brands and her curiosity and practice of international crafts technics is coming together today in service of creative people. Proudly she assume her role of craftsman and she aims to help designers realising their textile artworks. Myriam loves to collaborate with others and find the act of co creation so enriching and inspiring.
Together with her partner Pascal Simon they are the founders of a textile project named JohnJohnZouZou
LE CHAMP DES COULEURS
The story of Laura and Amandine begins with their ancestors, who were growing crops in the Provencal village of Roque d’Antheron. Today they are proud, to have this land in their hands and using it to grow tinctorial plants in an organic and responsible way.
The two sisters grew up in the nature and next to paysan work and are happy to represent the group of agriculture’s producing entirely made in France.
They choose to plant crops that contain the highest amount of pigment and the more adapted one for their terroir. All those pigments derived from plants can be used in textile, cosmetics, fine arts.
Their hope is to honour natural colours and their properties.
ATELIER CATS
Coralie Ducasse
Pattern and sample maker, manager of Atelier CATS in Montpellier.
Founded in 2020, the workshop offers pattern-making, grading, prototyping and
small-scale tailoring.
It is aimed at both experienced and novice designers, for clothing and accessories.
For a sustainable, local, and ethical fashion.
L’ATELIER SOUS L’ARBRE
Quentin Calabrese is a passionate woodworker finding his inspiration at the foot of Luberon massif. He conceives, developes and crafts small batches of objects around the thematic of home: tableware , decoration, furniture,…, Quentin plays with different scales, shapes, woods with extreme care and precision.
Every piece is unique, and it is produced in a traditional way using only French wood, favouring short circuit and using whenever is possible local wood.
Kundalee
Claire is a traditional jeweler, working in her workshop nestled in the Luberon, at the Cour des Créateurs in Lauris.
Her work is inspired by nature and ancient patterns. Her creations are developed through walks, seasons and emotions.
All her jewelry is hand-drawn and handcrafted in 925 sterling silver.
Each piece is unique or produced in small series.
WE think, WE create, WE produce, WE love, WE enjoy, WE embrace our gifts and WE share them with you.