Provence and India:
a long history
To coincide with the opening of the Provençal Museum of Costume and Jewellery in 1997, Agnès and Françoise Costa created a new world of textiles and lifestyle for the House of Fragonard. The two sisters, introduced to ancient Provençal skills by their mother, Hélène, are connoisseurs of near forgotten crafts such as traditional Provençal quilting (boutis), embroidery, and so on.
Their passion for textiles and the decorative arts in general has led them to travel the world discovering exceptional craftspeople. During their travels, they design high-quality 'handmade' objects that bring together Western aesthetics and the skill of local artisans. This has led to a rich collaboration with craftspeople from all over the world (Vietnam, India, Uzbekistan, etc.), where each craft highlights a particular technique, including block printing, ikat weaving, ceramics and embroidery.
Over the years, Fragonard has forged particularly strong links with India, echoing the past when Provence traded with India and imported the famous 'indiennes' - canvases painted or printed with colourful floral designs that our French factories reproduced from the 17th century onwards.
