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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🇮🇹 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.
July 8-14, 2027 Open for
booking
October 14-20, 2027 Open for
booking
September 14-21, 2026 Fully booked
Group:
Max 14 participants
Pay in full: €3.400
3 monthly instalments of €1.183
✓ Save €150 when paying in full
*Per 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.
March 24-31, 2027 Open for
booking
April 7-14, 2027 Waitlist
October 20-28, 2026. 2 spots left
Group: 9 participants
Pricing & payment
· Pay in full €4.700
· 3 monthly instalments of €1.665
·
*Per person · excl. travel & accommodation
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · Italy
SOLD OUT
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.
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
In this retreat we'll sew a short kimono-inspired jacket entirely by hand — with moments of silence, walks by the lake, nourishing (Italian) food, and gentle coaching by Heidi Hessing (Coach & Facilitator).
This week is all about ultimate selfcare in the company of likeminded souls and the beautiful backdrop of Lago maggiore and the Alps.
May 16-22, 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 · Italy 3 days · 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.
May 2-4, 2027
· max 15 participants
Pricing & payment:
Pay in full€1.427
or 3 monthly instalments of €500
🇮🇹 Arona · Lake Maggiore · Italy 4 days · 2027
During this four-day retreat, you will learn the essential foundations of English smocking together with internationally renowned smocking teacher Margie Malcolm and couture teacher Maaike Andriessen. We will guide you step by step through the techniques, so you build a solid understanding of the stitches, the pleating process, and how to create beautiful, even smocking.
May 30- June 2, 2027
· max 15 participants
Pricing & payment:
Pay in full€1.530
The Dressmakers Academy, Lingerzijde 1, 1135AM Edam, The Netherlands. KVK nr. : NL002121558B16, tel nr: +31 629025141
