Top of the Morning !!

Another great day for another great travel post.

I don't remember when exactly we took this trip,but it is supposedly one of the most popular fabric factories here in Madrid. I remember it was a very eventful day because it was the day I learnt so much about fabric than I have ever cared for in my life. Something completely off my interests list, but the people organizing it assured it would be one of the best experiences I'd have here , and so I figured, why not?

I would say, despite it being a very great experience, it's not something I would like to repeat. This trip is mostly great for people who are interested in sewing, making carpets or just interested to know more about fabric, I'm not. It would explain why there are mostly elderly people on this factory tours,they come to improve their sewing skills. I guess when you're old and retired, you have a lot of time to finally learn some stay at home skills.

The factory is very big and spacious, from the moment you walk in the atmosphere changes. Normally they don't allow photography, but as always, we try to sneak in a few photos here and there, because, content is part of the lifestyle.

They also have a lot of displays of traditional Spanish outfits allover the place, which they use to teach and demonstrate how the Spanish culture has evolved, in terms of fabric and designs.

Here, you also learn different types of stiching, and if you are lucky enough, the ladies who are doing it let you work with them for a minute or so.

What was super surprising though is, they do everything by hand. It's here I experienced some of the most minute stitching I have ever seen. There's this particular carpet they have been stitching from 2013, and it's supposedly going to be done in 2023, for the King of Spain!

Mind-blowing to say the least.

The process is long and gruesome,it's their determination and resilience that was much more attractive. One wrong move by anyone working on this piece and you are back to square one. Infact, they mentioned they had to start over at some point when someone cut the wrong string. I am not sure I could ever be that patient to be honest. It's very beautiful though, this photos don't do it justice.

Can you imagine stitching the same thing everyday of the week for 10 years?By hand? I cannot. That particular carpet they said was meant for the King of Spain, something they have been doing for the thrown for decades.

Initially I thought the carpets were done by a machine, but that was far from it. When the work is done, this pieces normally look like a piece of art in every essence of the word.

FUN FACTS

• Real Facrica de Tapices Factory has 300 years of experience in the manufacture and restoration of rugs, tapestries and confectioners.

• Founded by Felipe V in 1721, the factory would soon become a European benchmark for the manufacture of luxury fabrics, thanks to the collaboration between weavers and painters of the stature of Mengs, Bayeu or Goya.

• At the end of the 19th century, the urban growth of Madrid determined the transfer of manufacturing to the suburbs of the capital. The chosen location was a land known as the "Atocha olive grove and orchard", a place where it continues to this day.

• In 1996, the manufacturing becomes the Royal Tapestry Factory Foundation. Its purposes must be the maintenance of artisanal trades, the conservation and restoration of the textile heritage of the Spanish State and the general promotion of all cultural activities that contribute to the knowledge of the art of tapestry. Source- Official Website

The other smaller carpets take a shorter period of time of course,and they are nothing short of magnificent either. This they sell off to anyone who wants one,you can even place orders on their site if you like.

There's a lot more that they do also besides carpets.

In the manufacturing, carpets, tapestries and pastry shops are manufactured completely manually, keeping the roots with the Spanish textile tradition and promoting its transition towards high quality and 100% sustainable production

They are a a leading historical manufacturer in the field of manufacturing and restoration of luxury fabrics and as such, it will cost you a pretty penny.

Here, we also got to learn how turn caterpillar cocoons into fabric, something that gives me gitters just by thinking about it.

These are real pods that the factory collects to use occasionally.

Silk Making Process

Silk is a soft, smooth cloth that has been used for 1000's of years. It's made from a very soft fine thread made by caterpillars. The caterpillars weave tread into cacoon to protect themselves during metamorphosis, later, people collect the cacoons and extract the thread to make the silk fabric.

Finally...

Since its inception, the Royal Factory has played a fundamental role in preserving the Spanish textile heritage, actively participating in the development of procedures and technologies for the restoration of historical fabrics.

With the aim of promoting knowledge and appreciation of the art of tapestry, the Royal Factory also offers the possibility of visiting its facilities to contemplate the work of artisans.

I hope you guys learnt a thing or 2 from this post. If so, do leave me feedback on what it is you found the most fascinating. Personally, the whole experience was amazing.I'd like to leave you guys with a couple more photos, some of which were some of my faves given their vibrant colors.

YES, That's Fabric on the Wall.!!

I am a sucker for colors!

SEE YOU ON THE NEXT POST!!

Above all else, I'm a digital lifestyle enthusiast, blockchain & crypto believer, passionate creator and a believer of true decentralization. Automatically gets a long with people who have a great sense of humor, Yes to memes! Also, Foodie. Travel Adventures & More Wine.

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