Provence, in the south of France, is known for its lavender and lemons, its olive oil, and jasmine. It is the centre of France's perfume-making industry and has been immortalised by artists like Matisse and Cezanne, Picasso, and Van Gogh. Provence also has its own memorable textiles, which are immediately recognisable: deeply coloured cottons that reflect the hues of the countryside and often incorporate local motifs like sunflowers and olive trees. The story of how this cloth came to Provence and then settled there, growing deep roots, is one that twists and winds as much as the old country roads that travel deep into this region. We begin in a small town, called Tarascon, not far from Avignon.
