1960s French floral cotton
The Meadow Tote
“A tote that carries 60 years of French countryside”
€185
This piece has found its home
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The Story
This fabric was found folded between old recipe books at a brocante in Lyon — a piece of curtain fabric from a farmhouse in the Beaujolais hills. The woman selling it said her grandmother had made the curtains herself in the early 1960s, choosing the print because it reminded her of the wildflower meadows behind the house. The flowers have faded from what must once have been vivid pinks and greens into something softer, quieter — like a watercolour left in the sun. We knew immediately this fabric deserved to be carried, not stored.
The Fabric
A medium-weight cotton with a tight, even weave that speaks to the quality of French textile production in the 1960s. The print is a dense repeat of meadow flowers — cornflowers, poppies, and wild daisies — in faded rose, sage green, and a warm cream ground. The hand-feel is extraordinary: soft from decades of life, but with a reassuring firmness that tells you this fabric was made to last. There are faint creases where the curtains were folded, and a barely visible watermark near one edge — the kind of imperfections that remind you this is something real, something lived-in.
The Making
Hand-stitched over fourteen hours in our atelier. The exterior panels are cut to showcase the densest section of the floral repeat, ensuring the meadow motif wraps the bag beautifully. The handles are Italian vegetable-tanned leather in a warm honey tone, chosen to complement the cream ground of the fabric. Brass buckle closures age gracefully alongside the cotton. The interior is lined in natural unbleached linen with a single slip pocket.
Dimensions
38cm × 32cm × 12cm · Handles drop 22cm
Care
This vintage cotton has survived six decades — it asks only for gentle care in return. Spot-clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to preserve the faded beauty of the print. The leather handles will develop a rich patina over time; a light application of leather balm once or twice a year will keep them supple. Store stuffed with tissue paper to hold the shape.