EXCLUSIVE 8 DAY COUTURE SEWING RETREAT, ITALY
DATES: August 19-26, 2025 & September 5-12, 2025
Join Maaike Andriessen for an exclusive 8-day couture sewing retreat in Italy, where you'll craft a Chanel-inspired jacket in a historic 14th-century palazzo overlooking Lake Maggiore.
The retreat takes place in a stunning 14th-century house, owned by the renowned Italian noble family Borromeo.
Nestled in the charming town of Arona on the shores
of Lago Maggiore, this palazzo offers an extraordinary backdrop for your couture journey.
Located next to the Rocca Borromeo, the ruins of the Borromeo Castle, and facing the Angera Castle across the lake, the venue is steeped in history.
Both castles, which once belonged to the Borromeo family, feature frescoes painted in the 14th century that echo those found in the palazzo itself.
The house has a rich heritage as the birthplace of Federico Borromeo, one of the family’s most prominent figures.
A stunning English garden, with breathtaking views of Lago Maggiore and the Rocca Borromeo, completes this idyllic setting, creating the perfect atmosphere for
a week of creativity and luxury.
The Italian Lake District, where this retreat takes place, is famous for its Chanel bouclé mills and factories, which produce some of the most exquisite tweeds in
the world.
Your couture jacket will be crafted with these high-quality materials, sourced from the same region that inspires luxury fashion houses.
The retreat also highlights another Italian treasure – silk. Known globally for its superior quality, the Italian silk used for your jacket lining brings an added layer of elegance and authenticity to your creation.
PRICE: €3,200 per person (all-inclusive: course, silk organza and horsehair,
meals, transportation within Italy, and excursions)
Down Payment: €300 refundable deposit to reserve your spot.
ITALY SCHEDULE
DAY 1
Welcome to Italy! Day 1
Gather at the venue for a short introducion, travel to Milan for an
inspiring day of fabric shopping at world-class stores and a visit to a haute couture exhibition including a delicious lunch.
Dive into Italy’s vibrant fashion culture before returning to the palazzo.
The evening is all yours to explore.
DAY 2 - 8
Welcome to Day 2-8 | Immerse yourself in couture
Option 1: Sew your own couture jacket under expert guidance, with
time to refine your techniques.
Option 2: Focus on advanced couture skills, including hand-stitched
buttonholes, creating fabric flowers like the iconic Chanel camellia, and other intricate 2.0 techniques to personalize and elevate your jacket.
Enjoy freshly prepared lunches and snacks daily to fuel your creativity.
DAY 4
Welcome to Day 4
Half day sewing half day break for a relaxing excursion – either a
delightful wine tasting visit to Angera castle or a 4 hour scenic boat trip – to soak in the beauty of the Italian Lake District.
DAY 7
Welcome to Day 7
all day sewing; celebrate your progress and new friendships at a
luxurious farewell dinner in the palazzo.
DAY 8
Welcome to Day 8
Half day of sewing and in the afternoon we will head to a Japanese indigo dye atelier where you will learn everything about the process of dyeing fabric with Indigo and dye a scarf yourself.
The evening is yours to explore and dine where you like.
DAY 06
Welcome to Day 6
Half day/whole day (to your preference) of work on the Yukata, the afternoon and evening are yours to explore.
DAY 07
Welcome to Day 7
The final day to work on your Yukata including lunch, the evening is yours to explore.
DAY 08
Welcome to Day 8
last day of sewing and wrap up your jacket or newly learned
techniques and take home not only a bespoke creation but also
unforgettable memories of a truly exceptional week.
GOOD TO KNOW: All evenings are yours to Explore.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
- Tailored learning experience: Choose to focus on sewing your own
couture jacket or explore advanced couture techniques such as
creating perfect couture buttonholes, crafting a fabric camelia flower,
or mastering other intricate couturetechniques to elevate your jacket
to the next level. - A unique location: Stay in a historic palazzo steeped in Italian heritage,
surrounded by natural beauty and creative inspiration.
Culinary indulgence: Enjoy delicious daily lunches and snacks, topped
off with a celebratory farewell dinner to end the week in style. - A cultural day in Milan: Explore the finest fabric stores and visit a haute
couture exhibition that showcases Italy’s rich fashion heritage. - Optional activities: Relax with a wine tasting evening, visit to Angera
castle or a serene boat trip, balancing work and leisure. - Stress-free travel: All transportation within Italy is included, so you can
fully immerse yourself in the experience.
NOT INCLUDED
- Accommodation: Your stay in Arona or Angera is not included, but there are
many lovely hotels and charming BnBs to choose from in both towns for every
budget. - Airfare: Flights to and from Arona are not included.
- Travel insurance: Participants are responsible for their own travel insurance.
If you need recommendations for accommodations, please feel free to contact me
– I’d be happy to help you find the perfect place for your stay!
DETAILS
Dates: August 19-26, 2025 & September 5-12, 2025
Location: 14th-century palazzo in Arona, Lago Maggiore
Price: €3,200 per person (all-inclusive: course, silk organza and horsehair,
meals, transportation within Italy, and excursions)
Down Payment: €300 refundable deposit to reserve your spot
Secure Your Spot with a Down Payment
To make this retreat possible, I am offering a refundable down payment option to
reserve your place. Simply pay a €300 deposit to express your interest and secure
your spot on the pre-booking list.
Once you make your down payment, your name will be added to the list, and you
will be notified as soon as the retreat is confirmed.
If the retreat does not meet the required number of participants, your deposit will
be refunded in full.
This is a low-risk way to reserve your place and ensure you don’t miss out on this
once-in-a-lifetime experience!
CANCELLATION POLICY
You may cancel your trip until 60 days prior to the start of the retreat, and
receive a full refund minus a 150 Euro per-person admin fee.
If you need to cancel your trip last minute due to unforeseen circumstances or
family /health matters, please turn to your travel insurance company.
Travel insurance coverage is not included in the costs of this trip.
In the rare case we would have to postpone the trip due to unforeseen
circumstances (COVID outbreak, war, typhoons, etc.) We will try and reschedule
the trip. We will bank 100% of your paid fees as a credit to use for another trip
date.
In case of cancellation by us, for any reason, you will get a full refund of your
total paid amount of money.
ABOUT MAAIKE ANDRIESSEN
Discover the Art of Couture with Maaike at The Dressmakers Academy.
With over 25 years of experience as a couture dressmaker, working alongside renowned designers, in the theater with prima ballerina Igoné de Jongh and the United Ukrainian Ballet, Maaike brings a wealth of expertise and passion to The Dressmakers Academy, which she founded in 2019.
Maaike is dedicated to teaching what she loves most.
The French Jacket Retreat, a dream she once wished she could have attended during her student years, is now a reality she offers to others.
Similarly, after traveling through Japan and being captivated by its exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, she created the Kimono Sewing Retreat in Japan so her students could share in this extraordinary experience.
Maaike's philosophy is simple: if she loves it, she brings it to her students, ensuring they receive the finest education in couture and craftsmanship.
Are you ready to join her?