Provençal fabrics - or indiennes - were first produced in France during the seventeenth century.
They were inspired by the methods and designs of the imported fabrics from India at that time In 1686, Louis XIV, the Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France at that time, stopped the importation of all Indian fabric.
Over the next two hundred years the production of Provence fabrics grew with factories in Orange, Avignon, Tarascon and Aix.
These fabrics were initially used produces women's shawls but are now mainly used for interior design decoration.
French tablecloths have got a good reputation of lasting and looking beautiful for many years to come.
You can find them being used on some of the makeover shows we see on TV these days.
Creating a French decor is not complete without the typical French colourful pottery and tablecloths.
Today you can still buy these fabrics as there are number of companies in Provence that continue the tradition of fabric making.
Ensoleillade and Marat d'Avignon produce fabrics of only the highest quantity.
The material would be whitened first, and then the pattern outlined using stencilling.
The dyes were obtained from natural materials such as plants and minerals and each colour was applied with separate woodblock impressions.
Today the production techniques are modern and have evolved but the colours and patterns are pretty much unchanged today.
Some of the modern tablecloths produced in Provence today have a Teflon coating.
When adding Teflon, it creates a molecular barrier within the fibres.
This keeps your fabric clean and stain free.
You can simply wipe simple spills and then only occasionally wash it in your machine.
No dry cleaning costs, just a beautiful fabric which will last and look fabulous for years.
They will also look great on a patio table for alfresco dining.
Getting hold of these fabrics or French Linens as they are known is easier today than ever.
You don't have to visit the region to buy some as there are a couple of niche online boutiques which import them and other French home ware.
But saying that, Provence is such a beautiful part of the world, if you were ever looking for somewhere to nice to visit and go shopping, this would be a good choice.
The climate of Provence is typically Mediterranean with mild winters.
You will find it beautiful all year round, but spring and autumn would be best if you wanted to see some of the beautiful landscapes full of the colours that inspire today's Provencal fabrics.
Head for the markets for the best bargains and variety.
They were inspired by the methods and designs of the imported fabrics from India at that time In 1686, Louis XIV, the Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France at that time, stopped the importation of all Indian fabric.
Over the next two hundred years the production of Provence fabrics grew with factories in Orange, Avignon, Tarascon and Aix.
These fabrics were initially used produces women's shawls but are now mainly used for interior design decoration.
French tablecloths have got a good reputation of lasting and looking beautiful for many years to come.
You can find them being used on some of the makeover shows we see on TV these days.
Creating a French decor is not complete without the typical French colourful pottery and tablecloths.
Today you can still buy these fabrics as there are number of companies in Provence that continue the tradition of fabric making.
Ensoleillade and Marat d'Avignon produce fabrics of only the highest quantity.
The material would be whitened first, and then the pattern outlined using stencilling.
The dyes were obtained from natural materials such as plants and minerals and each colour was applied with separate woodblock impressions.
Today the production techniques are modern and have evolved but the colours and patterns are pretty much unchanged today.
Some of the modern tablecloths produced in Provence today have a Teflon coating.
When adding Teflon, it creates a molecular barrier within the fibres.
This keeps your fabric clean and stain free.
You can simply wipe simple spills and then only occasionally wash it in your machine.
No dry cleaning costs, just a beautiful fabric which will last and look fabulous for years.
They will also look great on a patio table for alfresco dining.
Getting hold of these fabrics or French Linens as they are known is easier today than ever.
You don't have to visit the region to buy some as there are a couple of niche online boutiques which import them and other French home ware.
But saying that, Provence is such a beautiful part of the world, if you were ever looking for somewhere to nice to visit and go shopping, this would be a good choice.
The climate of Provence is typically Mediterranean with mild winters.
You will find it beautiful all year round, but spring and autumn would be best if you wanted to see some of the beautiful landscapes full of the colours that inspire today's Provencal fabrics.
Head for the markets for the best bargains and variety.