Le Geste et la Matière closes its store in the city center but remains active

Un au revoir lors d'une matinée conviviale autour d'un vide atelier pour les membres de la boutique ML – ALAIN MENDEZ

L’association de créateurs ne pouvait plus en assurer la charge d'un lieu créé en 2015, mais elle continuera ses actions collectives différemment.

"It’s a shame but it’ was no longer possible. The association continues and we will do other things, differently." explains Estelle Desbouvries, clothing designer with Couture vagabonde and president of the association ;Geste et la Matière association. The Covid, major works at the corner of Grand-Rue and Rue de la République but above all the economic context which is hitting art artisans hard, have got the better of the collective boutique of creators.

Opened in the summer of 2015, to compensate for the closure of Horizons Interiors, another boutique then managed by the Métiers d’Art division of the Community of Communes, it closed in its turn its doors.

An economic context that is too difficult

"It’was a showcase for 13 of the twenty or so members of the association who took turns to run it. But the load was too great. Faced with difficulties, some of us found work on the side." adds Estelle. 
Closed since the end of January already, it reopened for one morning this Saturday, March 2, market day for a friendly empty workshop which allowed the Lodévois, around a cake, a drink, to come and do some business… and for art artisans to find each other.

Many customers came on Saturday morning market day to meet the craftsmen and do business ML – ALAIN MENDEZ

"We wanted to say goodbye, not goodbye and thank our customers." indicate the professionals . "It's a great regret to lose a window like that, in Lodève, near us" resumes the vegetable dyer Claire Müller, whose Vert Claire workshop is located in Lauroux."It’s the end of an adventure but not of the association, nor of our individual work. We will continue to intervene in the city, certainly in a more ephemeral way." And to discuss ideas with our colleagues, including Lodévoie Nathalie Syz.< /p>

The association will continue its collective actions in a more ephemeral manner. ML – ALAIN MENDEZ
"We don’t forbid ourselves anything. Like organizing markets in the summer in the Halle Dardé in the spirit of the one we do just before Christmas in the wake of the Lodève creators' show." specifies the jewelry designer.

Contact and information: https://www.legesteetlamatiere.fr/  I subscribe to read more