You might have seen in my previous posts that I spend a few days in Mallorca, together with my friend Iris of C-More to visit the sixth edition of XTANT. With the theme HUACA — a Quechua word meaning ‘the sacred’, this yearly event explores how textiles and crafts are powerful vessels of our cultural and spiritual heritage. Within the historic setting of Can Vivot the festival showcased over 75 artisans and creators from more than 35 countries, with a special focus on talents from Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.
Unlike traditional fairs, XTANT does not prioritize popularity or commercial gain. Each artisan is given the same attention and opportunity, ensuring that creativity, craftsmanship, and excellence take center stage. In an interview with my friend Holly Becker, Co-founder of XTANT Kavita Parmar describes the festival as follow: “XTANT isn’t a fair, it’s a celebration and a festival of the handmade, built with hope and joy for us, and all who participate and visit, to share our stories, joy, and passion for textiles” See the whole interview here What personally touched me most was the real friendly atmosphere, between both artisans and visitors.
In this article I will show some artists I met and of course some pictures of the building can’t be missed. To keep this post from getting too long, I will show more of the workshop Iris and I followed and the work WARA and of some other artists in a next article. Although I guess it will be long anyway, so I narrowed the artists showing you and give you a peek into my favourites of XTant. Please have a look at my Xtant 2025 highlight on Instagram for more artists.
Can Vivot
Can Vivot itself, where XTant took place, is just amazing by itself! This Mallorcan manor house that has remained intact since its last renovation between 1683 and 1711. With its roots dating back to the 14th century, the house still boasts an array of original architectural features on its façade and throughout most of the ground floor.
It boasts a spectacular baroque courtyard, with a beautifully paved floor and an imperial staircase featuring two entrances on the upper floor landing. It was declared a national historical-artistic monument and later a cultural interest.
Fale: I really loved the beautiful work of Fale, the different exposed fabrics on display made my heart beat faster, it was difficult to capture them really nicely because of the light but this impression hopefully gives you a good idea. Made in Senegal, Fane has a small number of outlets, including 2 in Europe. Website: Fale
Candles and fragrances as seen at 10 Corso Como by Love & Stones A holistic crystal infused concept & community Website: Love & Stones
Textile totems by Aaaacoop made by Mali artisans. Website: Aaaacoop
Another favourite of mine were the Silk Sculptures by Kinga Földi, beautiful presented on these stairs at the amazing Can Vivot building. Website: Kinga Földi Art Check itout as her work is amazing!
The Frafra Tapestry emerges from a prolonged research process. Each piece translates the architectural plan of a specific Frafra family compound, interpreted by local artisans by means of elephant grass. These are objective documents that precisely represent a construction tradition feared to disappear.
The traditional dense weaving extends in circles and lines that articulate the daily life of a family. Its growth is reflected in rooms, courtyards, and walls, captured in the tapestry as a poetic architectural plan. Read more here on the website: Alvaro Catalán de Ocón
Artist and designer GGrippo has been working in fashion, installation art and photography since the early 80’s in their native Argentina, Europe and NYC where he lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, where they run GGrippo art+design, their namesake working atelier, gallery space and showroom, open to the public, the space offers a view of their creative process and the world they belong into, and houses a tearoom. At Xtant he held a daily tea ceremony next to showing his textile work and fashion pieces. Website: GGrippo
Natural ink drawings on japanese paper & Ceramics by Julie van Riel
Passa ao Futuro is a research based cultural initiative, non-profit association which mission is to preserve, promote, innovate, activate and celebrate the Portuguese artisan sector through a series of initiatives, utilizing design thinking. Website: Passa ao Futuro
Textiles & drawingsRosa Caterina Bosch Loved the litthe details in the stiches below. Website Rosa Caterina
If you know the name of this artist Please let me know
I will dedicate a future blogpost at Wara from Japan and the workshop pictured above. And the work of Palacio Felices pictured below.
Images ©vosgesparis
Het bericht 10 Artists I discovered at XTANT 2025 verscheen eerst op vosgesparis.