Cartonnage is a traditional French craft in which layered cardboard is shaped into boxes and decorative objects, then wrapped in fabric or decorative paper to create finished pieces of lasting beauty.
No needle or thread is required โ making it wonderfully accessible for complete beginners. Using your choice of fabric, you can create objects that are both functional and genuinely beautiful.
What makes cartonnage so enduring is the way it balances practicality with quiet elegance.
From jewellery boxes to desk organisers, every piece you make is something you can actually use โ and something that brings beauty into the everyday.
The fabric you choose transforms the personality of each piece entirely. That sense of creative freedom โ combined with the satisfaction of making something by hand โ is what draws people back again and again.
At Madomaru, cartonnage is united with Yoneori โ the fine woven silk of Yonezawa, a city in Yamagata Prefecture with over 1,200 years of textile tradition.
The intricate weave of Yoneori brings a refined depth to every piece โ a meeting of French craft and Japanese textile heritage that is unlike anything else.
Madomaru offers lessons for all levels โ complete beginners are very welcome.
Each session is guided step by step, so you can enjoy making your first piece with confidence.
Lessons and workshops are held in Yokohama, Tokyo and Yamagata. Feel free to get in touch.
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