Bordeaux - A Day in September

I wrote to Florence Lafragette, the Directrice Artistique and owner of Petrusse, the maker of scarves, to let her know I would be finished my work in Paris by Monday afternoon.

We agreed on a meeting the next day and I arranged to leave for Bordeaux on the express train that left in the evening on Monday. We planned to get an early-morning start by car to the Chateau Mauriac in Langon, the headquarters of Petrusse.

Our visit began with a tour of the Chateau and collaborative exchanges with the design team, Valerie, the director of sales and her assistant Lucas, as well as those with the savoir-faire of making scarves.

We then chose the designs from the Fall/Winter 2023 and Spring/Summer 2024 collections, followed by a lunch prepared by the Chateaux kitchen, served on a beautifully set table overlooking the gardens. The meal was delicious and the conversation was about Bogart and Ingrid Bergman and trench coats and music.

Designs were influenced by works of art - new and old -and by causes and contributions to charities:

Born during the fires that impacted France, the stole stands as a tribute to the heroic firefighters of the great fires at Les Dunes de Pilat. With a noble cause, a portion of the proceeds is dedicated to supporting their invaluable work.

The restoration of the great organ in the Cathedral de Bordeaux - carrying the essence of the church's rich history, poetry, peace, and the surrounding nature that enwraps it.

A captivating depiction of the Chateau in futuristic hues, painted exclusively by Pascale Lesage for Maison Petrusse.

I find colour full of optimism and happiness. As a visual person who loves the arts and travel, I have a fondness for patterns and printed textiles.

I bought more than originally intended - seduced by the supple fabrics, imaginative designs and royal treatment by the team.

Customers outside of France may not know the diverse art of tying scarves as extensively as the creative women of Paris. You seldom see a woman strolling the streets of Paris without an effortlessly wrapped scarf - so eye-catching!

Valerie asked the designer to come in and together the four of us collaborated on what we had developed for our workshops in Toronto on scarves and the many ways to tie them. We had a good session with all of us on the same team.

Le Grand Dune du Pilat

We said "A bientot" at four and agreed to meet in Paris in January and to continue our collaboration. I thanked Valerie and Lucas for the hospitality. I said that PK and Petrusse will have a long future together and I meant it.

We drove fast to the Dune du Pilat and by early evening we had climbed to the peak to look out over the ocean, to oyster boats in the shallows, and to the forests behind, in parts grown back to a good height.

Fashion, Style & PK

Consistency in fashion is a virtue, to grow the collections within a definite frame rather than flipping designs every six months and relying on a logo. The skill of shaping fabrics and the quality of construction are important to me.

If you can put people in nice clothes, it really makes them feel special, authoritative, sexy and strong. Fashion is a difficult word to describe, in the same way style is a difficult word too. Style for me can be about posture or good manners, as well as how you look.

I do not go out of the city on the weekends; I prefer walking in the city, spending time in the shop, and meeting the people who share the same views and values in fashion and style.

I feel no shame in saying I would happily continue this journey for as long as my mind and body will allow me to!

What Does the PK Day in Bordeaux stand for?

It stands for clothes that are easy to wear and beautifully made. It stands for honesty which means I have clients who've been with me for 25 years. There's a safety in their minds, "I'll find something at Dorothea's shop." You know you don't have to worry about it. Hopefully that's true!

Scarf caught your eye?

Email us at mail@petrakarthaus.com to place an order for the scarf of your choosing - even if sold out or not available online - and we'll have it shipped to you at your convenience!