Beneath the golden sun of Puglia, where olive trees stretch toward the sea and cicadas sing in the heat of the afternoon, a quiet revolution hums behind the stone walls of an old villa in Casamassella, a village nestled in the heart of Salento, where the past isn’t just remembered—it’s woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of the present.
At the heart of this story lies Le Costantine, a foundation and textile laboratory unlike any other. Set within Tenuta Le Costantine, a simple yet dignified estate shaded by fig trees and framed by wildflowers, this workshop carries forward over a century of tradition, where craftsmanship and empowerment are intimately entwined.
Photo courtesy of Fondazione Le Costantine
Le Costantine was born from the vision of two remarkable women: Carolina De Viti De Marco, an early 20th-century intellectual, and Harriet Lathrop Dunham, her American sister-in-law and confidante. Together, they founded the School of Weaving and Embroidery in 1901 to provide local women with the skills—and income—they needed to lead independent lives.
Over time, this has evolved into a full-fledged foundation and was established officially in 1982. Yet its mission has remained steadfast: to honor tradition, uplift women, and preserve the unique artisanal heritage of Salento.
Step into the workshop and you’re met with a quiet hum—wooden treadles creaking, shuttles flying back and forth, the hush of concentration. Here, loom after loom, some over a hundred years old, stand tall like wooden sentinels. They produce not relics of a bygone age, but fresh, contemporary creations: linen scarves dyed in earthy hues, geometric wall hangings, hand-embroidered table runners, and bold, modern rugs. The patterns come from a rich archive, but each weaver brings something new. The result is a conversation across generations—the wisdom of the past woven into the language of today.
Photo courtesy of Fondazione Le Costantine
Le Costantine’s products are available in select boutiques, but their true value lies in their story. In 2020, that quiet story burst into the international spotlight. Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior, collaborated with Le Costantine for the brand’s Resort 2021 collection. Inspired by the traditions of Italian craft, Chiuri brought Le Costantine’s motifs and spirit to a global runway, paying homage to both the artisans and their ancestral legacy.
Photo courtesy of Fondazione Le Costantine
For the women at the foundation, it was a proud moment—not because of fame, but because their work, so often marginalized, had finally been seen, celebrated, and honored.
To visit Salento is to step into a living tapestry. The land itself feels woven—olive groves stitched across rolling hills, the blue of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas stitched along the edges. But beyond its physical beauty, Salento is a land where tradition is not ornamental—it’s functional, vital, and alive.
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Whether you wander the cobbled streets of Otranto, attend a local pizzica dance festival, or explore the market stalls of Lecce, you’ll find echoes of an ancient rhythm. And in Casamassella, at Le Costantine, you can trace that rhythm with your fingertips.
Visitors are welcome at the foundation, where guided tours introduce you to the weavers, their techniques, and the historical roots of their art. Workshops are occasionally offered for those who wish to learn the basics of loom weaving or embroidery, making it a perfect cultural excursion for travelers seeking more than just sun and scenery.
And while Salento offers plenty of both, its greatest treasure lies in its people—and their unwavering commitment to preserving what matters.
In an era of fast fashion, fleeting trends, and mass production, places like Le Costantine are rare and sacred. So come not just to visit Puglia, but to touch its soul. Come to Salento, where the past is not a place—it’s a practice. And at Le Costantine, that practice becomes a lifeline, woven with care, one thread at a time.
