EXCLUSIVE: FRENCH COUTURE JACKET SEWING RETREAT
ARONA, ITALY
Sew your own French Couture Jacket at Lake Maggiore, Italy
2027 DATES:
JULY 8-14, 2027 ONLY 4 PLACES REMAINING
OCTOBER 14-20, 2027 SOLD OUT
NOVEMBER 1 - 7, 2027 NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING!
The retreat is limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
Join Maaike Andriessen, founder of the The Dressmakers Academy, for an exclusive seven-day sewing retreat in Arona, Italy, where you will create your own perfectly fitted, Chanel-inspired couture jacket.
WELCOME TO MY PALAZZO STUDIO IN ITALY
The retreat takes place in The Dressmakers Academy’s dedicated couture atelier, set within the beautifully frescoed Palazzo Borromeo in the heart of Arona.
Northern Italy is home to exceptional textile mills producing fabrics for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel.
For one inspiring week, you can step away from everyday life and devote your full attention to sewing your own Chanel inspired jacket.
A JACKET FITTED TO YOU
Your measurements are requested before the retreat, allowing Maaike to prepare your individual toile in advance. Your first full sewing day is devoted to perfecting its fit.
AUTHENTIC COUTURE TECHNIQUES
Learn the traditional construction methods that give a French jacket its characteristic softness, structure and movement — from silk organza interfacing and quilted lining to a hand finished lining and trim.
FABRIC SOURCING IN MILAN
Begin your retreat with a privately organised day in Milan, where Maaike will help you select the highest quality Italian fabrics, silk lining, trims and buttons for your jacket.
MEET MAAIKE
Maaike Andriessen has more than 30 years of experience in bespoke garment construction, tailoring and couture sewing.
Alongside running The Dressmakers Academy, she has worked professionally for leading Dutch designers and couturiers and her own private clients. A highlight of her career was contributing to a Prinsjesdag gown worn by Queen Máxima through her work with one of the Netherlands’ best-known fashion designers.
Her experience also includes creating costumes for internationally acclaimed prima ballerina Igone de Jongh and The United Ukrainian Ballet.
During the retreat, you will be taught personally by Maaike, with additional support from an experienced sewing assistant.
All teaching is in English.
YOUR JACKET BEGINS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Before the retreat, you will receive detailed instructions explaining how to take and submit your measurements.
Maaike will use these to prepare an individual toile especially for you.
The first full sewing day is dedicated to fitting and refining your toile before construction begins.
You will therefore not simply work from a standard pattern size: your jacket will be based on a toile carefully fitted to your individual body.
LEARN AUTHENTIC COUTURE CONSTRUCTION
Throughout the week, you will learn the complete construction of a French couture jacket using techniques that preserve the softness, texture and movement of the woven bouclé fabric.
You will learn how to:
- Perfect the fit of your cotton toile to your body
- Prepare and cut your fashion fabric accurately
- Discover why traditional silk organza is used instead of fusible interfacing, preserving the bouclé’s natural softness, texture and movement
- Stabilise and shape the jacket using couture sewing and iron techniques
- Quilt the silk lining, silk organza and the outer fabric as one layer
- Construct, shape and insert the sleeves for perfect fit and movement
- Create trims and pockets by hand
- Finish the lining by hand and apply the iconic chain
- learn how a to handsew a buttonhole or add a colar
SEW INSIDE A FRESCOED ITALIAN PALAZZO
The retreat is held in The Dressmakers Academy’s dedicated atelier inside Palazzo Borromeo Arona.
With its frescoed walls, high ceilings and unmistakably Italian character, the palazzo provides an inspiring setting for traditional couture sewing.
The fully equipped and airconditioned atelier has individual sewing stations, professional cutting tables and plenty of space to work comfortably.
Lake Maggiore, hotels, B&B's, shops and restaurants are all within walking distance.
FABRIC SOURCING IN MILAN
The retreat begins with a special day in Milan, Italy’s fashion and fabric capital.
We will visit carefully selected stores specialising in exceptional Made in Italy textiles, followed by a historic haberdashery filled with trims and beautiful vintage buttons.
Maaike will advise you on fabric and trim,
CONTINUE LEARNING AT HOME
A complete online French Couture Jacket Course is included in the retreat and will be available to you before the retreat starts
This way, you can use the course to familiarise yourself with the techniques before travelling to Italy. After the retreat, you will retain access to the lessons and the pattern (European size 34-46) so that you can revisit every stage of the construction process at your own pace.
The combination of personal tuition in Italy and detailed online instruction at home gives you the confidence and support to complete your jacket beautifully — and to create another one in the future.
The online course is included in your retreat and has a value of €219.
Your retreat includes:
- Seven days of expert couture tuition
- Personal guidance from Maaike Andriessen
- Support from an experienced sewing assistant
- An individually prepared toile based on your measurements
- A full day dedicated to fitting and perfecting your toile
- The complete online French Couture Jacket Course
- An privately organised fabric-sourcing day in Milan
- Private ransportation during the programme
- Lunches, drinks and snacks during the sewing days
- A special farewell dinner
- Use of the fully equipped atelier
Travel to Italy, travel insurance, accommodation and the fabrics and materials for your jacket are not included.
Arona has a variety of hotels and apartments within walking distance of Palazzo Borromeo.
IS THIS RETREAT FOR YOU?
You do not need previous couture experience, but you should have an intermediate sewing level. You should feel comfortable using a sewing machine, following a garment pattern, inserting a lining and work independently on garment construction.
More important than speed is your willingness to work carefully, sew by hand and take the time required to achieve a beautiful result. the focus of the retreat is on the couture sewing technque, not on basic sewing skills
The retreat is taught entirely in English and welcomes participants from around the world.
YOUR INVESTMENT
The complete seven-day French Couture Jacket Retreat is:
€3,400 when paid in full
or
3 monthly instalments of €1,183
Your place is confirmed once your registration and payment have been received.
Due to the personal preparation involved — including the creation of your individual toile — places are strictly limited.
ITALY SCHEDULE
DAY 1
MILAN
Travel by private minivan to Milan for a personally guided day of fabric and trim sourcing. Lunch and transportation are included.
DAY 2 - 7
COUTURE SEWING
Begin with the personal fitting of your toile and continue through the complete construction of your jacket, working at your own level and pace under Maaike’s guidance.
DAY 6
FAREWELL DINNER
Enjoy a special farewell dinner together in Arona. All other evenings are free.
CANCELLATION POLICY
You’re free to cancel your registration within 14 days of booking for a full refund, unless the retreat begins within that 14-day period or unless otherwise stated at the time of booking.
After that, the following cancellation policy applies:
- 25% of the total retreat price is non-refundable.
- If you cancel more than 16 weeks before the retreat begins, any payments made beyond the non-refundable 25% may be refunded, minus any non-recoverable costs and fees.
- If you cancel between 16 and 12 weeks before the retreat begins, 75% of the total retreat price remains payable.
- If you cancel within 12 weeks of the retreat, 100% of the total retreat price remains payable and no refund will be given.
Please note:
- Choosing a payment plan does not make your booking flexible or cancellable.
- If you can no longer attend, you may request to transfer your place to another suitable participant, subject to approval.
- If your place can be resold, we may, at our discretion, offer a partial refund or credit.
- We strongly recommend arranging travel insurance immediately after booking, especially for international retreats.