The Retreats
Small groups. Frescoed palazzos. Couture techniques nobody teaches. Days that move between the sewing table, the lake, the streets of Tokyo — and something quieter than all of that.
"My retreats are for women who already love to sew — and who are ready to go somewhere they have never been. Not just in craft, but in themselves."
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2026 — Last spots available
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · Italy
A week in a frescoed palazzo beginning with fabric shopping in Milan, then sewing a French couture jacket entirely by hand — using the techniques of Coco Chanel herself.
June 15-22, 2026 1 spot left
July 6-12, 2026 1 spot left
September 14-21, 2026 2 spots left
July 8-14, 2027 new date!
October 14-20, 2027 new date!
Group: Max 14 participants
Pay in full: €3.400
3 monthly instalments of €1.183
✓ Save €150 when paying in full
P*er person · excl. travel & accommodation
TOKYO, JAPAN
🇯🇵 Tokyo · Nippori · Japan
Eight days in Tokyo — sewing a traditional kimono by hand, dyeing fabric in real indigo, and discovering Nippori, the city's legendary fabric district. Japan teaches you something about slowness that no other place can.
October 20-28, 2026. 3 spots left
March 24-31, 2027 NEW DATE: NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING
Group: 9 participants
Pricing & payment
· Pay in full €4.700
· 3 monthly instalments of €1.665
·
*Per person · excl. travel & accommodation
2027 — NOW available for booking
ARONA. ITALY, LAGO MAGGIORE
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · ItalyHigh demand · 2 dates
Join me in Arona for an exclusive retreat where you will sew your own timeless Max Mara inspired coat — the iconic wrap coat model — in double faced wool, using a special couture seam finishing technique that makes this coat as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.DateAvailabilityStatus
September 20-25, 2027
max 14 spots available
Pay in full €2.900
3 monthly instalments of €1.017
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · Italy2027 · Application required
We sew a short kimono-inspired jacket entirely by hand — with moments of silence, walks by the lake, nourishing food, and gentle coaching by Heidi Hessing (Coach & Facilitator). For when your soul needs rest and your nervous system needs to breathe. And in the quiet rhythm of hand sewing, there is space to gently meet whatever arises — without rushing it away.
May 16-21, 2027 · Max 10 · By application
Pricing & payment
· Pay in full €2.500
· 3 Monthly instalments of €883
· ✓ Save €150 when paying in full
This retreat is by application only. Before booking we hold a short intake conversation to ensure the retreat is the right fit for you. No payment is required at this stage.
Apply by email to info@thedressmakersacademy.com Topic: mindfulness sewing retreat application
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · Italy2027 · Now open
Completely new and utterly romantic. A high tea, a visit to a beautiful palazzo on the Borromean Islands of Lake Maggiore — and we sew a Dior-style corset guided by a guest teacher who is a true expert in corsetry. The corset can be used as an item in itself or as a construction for inside a garment
June 7-11, 2027
max 14 participants
Pricing & payment
· Pay in full€2.500
· 3 monthly instalments of €883
· ✓ Save €150 when paying in full
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · Italy3 dates · 2027
Imagine embroidering frescoes in a 15th century Italian palazzo. Three days of pure beauty — a perfect short escape and an introduction to the beginnings of couture embroidery.
You will learn how to work with different embroidery stitches, textures and materials.
June 5-7, 2027
· max 15 participants
Pricing & payment:
Pay in full€1.427
or 3 monthly instalments of €500
