ITALY SCHEDULE

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
  or mastering other intricate couture techniques to elevate your jacket
  to the next level.
• A unique location: Palazzo Borromeo, next to Lago Maggiore, in Arona.
• The Lake District in Northern Italy, with Milan at its heart, is world-renowned 

for its haute couture wool, tweed, and bouclé mills. Many of the most i

conic couture houses — including Chanel — source and produce their 

finest wool fabrics here.

• 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 that showcases 

Italy’s rich fabric heritage.

DETAILS

Dates:

June 15-22, 2026

July 6-12, 2026

September 14-21, 2026

July 8-14, 2027

October 14-20, 2027

Location: Arona, Lago Maggiore, ITALY

Required sewing level:

This retreat is intended for sewists with an intermediate level of experience.

You don’t need to be a professional, but it is important that you are already comfortable making garments. Ideally, you have sewn a few jackets for yourself and are familiar with the basic construction techniques.

You should already know how to:

• set in sleeves in a jacket
• insert a lining
• work independently on garment construction

During the retreat we will focus on couture techniques and hand sewing, rather than teaching the basics of garment making.

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.

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 in beautiful Arona?