Review: De La Espada at Xtant, Mallorca 2025
“If the design scene already holds a sense of community, the craft world at Xtant felt even more supportive - almost utopian in its worldview.”
All photography by Yuki Sugiura unless otherwise credited
May 9-13, 2025, De La Espada had the pleasure of participating in the Xtant festival, a uniquely connective event in Palma de Mallorca where global artisans gather annually in celebration of textile craft. Through exhibitions, workshops, talks, a marketplace, and live music, Xtant fosters community, embraces regeneration, and reclaims the meaning in the craft.
This year, in its sixth edition, Xtant hosted 83 artists from 30 countries, with a special focus on the Global South — Africa, Latin America, and Asia — under the theme Huaca, meaning “sacred” in Quechua. This theme highlighted the role of textiles in rituals throughout time and the beauty of their creation process.
As first-time exhibitors, De La Espada represented Portugal at the intersection of weaving and furniture craft.
We highlighted our collaborations with textile artisans including Fabricaal, Flores Textile Studio, Isabelle Ormieres, and Catarina Riccabona, and were honoured to take part in the Huaca Conversation Series. We found deep connection in conversations with fellow exhibitors and indulged in hands-on workshops with inspiring makers from around the world.
Here, we reflect on our experience at Xtant, what makes the festival truly unique, and highlight select moments and exhibitors through the impressions and words of Simon Kämpfer from our in-house design studio De La Espada Atelier, and from exhibiting textile artist Catarina Riccabona, with whom we collaborated on special editions of our Arts & Crafts Cabinet.
We also share a few words from De La Espada co-founder Luis De Oliveira.
BREATHTAKING SETTING
Xtant is set in Can Vivot, a palace with a history reaching back to the 14th century, nestled in the astounding natural beauty of Palma de Mallorca. With an interplay of indoor and outdoor space and architectural features spanning several centuries, the palace has an expansive warmth, perfect for celebrating creativity and connection.
“Approaching through narrow streets and then entering Can Vivot palace felt like stepping into a different world. The uneven floor — part stone, part earth — had something timeless. There were large, suspended veils weaving in and out of the architecture, guiding the eyes upwards into the sky. Down below this open canopy, under arches and along the winding walls, extended a multitude of textile displays with people busy chatting. A calm, intriguing, and hopeful welcome straight away,” shares Catarina.
“The venue had a wonderful atmosphere with its magical courtyards, a maze of spaces soaked in history, and a rich tapestry of textures and backdrops,” says Simon.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Xtant founder Kavita Parmar, warm and down-to-earth, embodies the spirit of the festival she created. Through her passion for artisanal craft, her reverence for generational wisdom, and her persistent call for environmental responsibility in the fashion industry, she has become a beacon around whom like-minded creatives gather.
She truly believes in the art of craft, the power in community, and sharing knowledge and resources. This spirit shapes the way participants at Xtant interact with one another, and the offerings they bring to the experience.
“More than an event to celebrate craft, textile and fashion, Xtant is a place for people to meet, exchange knowledge, stories, dreams, and experience meaningful moments together.”
“Of course people are there to sell their work and sustain their small businesses; however, the atmosphere is that of a gathering of friends, people making new friends, starting new collaborations, helping each other, working together. This community spirit is what really sets Xtant apart from any other design or craft event. This is also the mantra of Kavita, who is the beating heart of Xtant with the group of close friends who help to make this all happen. For her, it is all about the ‘we’ vs ‘I’,” says Simon.
He continues, “It was interesting to see how people from so many diverse corners of the world worked together. Part of the beauty and also the challenge of Xtant is the fact that no clear spaces are assigned until the day of the setup. So people negotiate and collaborate to create an overall experience rather than focusing only their own small corner.”
“The atmosphere was genuine with lots of like-minded people talking about their work with such specialist knowledge, enthusiasm and conviction — this revealed a shared seriousness in approach and intention to do things differently, to find more responsible and sustainable ways of making,” adds Catarina.
Photo by Simon
Photo by Stefania
Luis De Oliveira, co-founder of De La Espada reflected on the unique spirit of Xtant, thus:
“If the design scene already holds a sense of community, the craft world at Xtant felt even more supportive — almost utopian in its worldview. What stood out to me is how De La Espada moves easily between both worlds — design and architecture on one hand, and craft on the other. We feel comfortable in both because we commit deeply to each and work closely with the people shaping them. That feeling was deepened in the warmth of Palma and the unique, communal spirit of Xtant.”
DE LA ESPADA:
INTERSECTION OF WEAVING AND FURNITURE CRAFT
De La Espada exhibited products developed with our artisan partners, pieces that combine expert woodcraft with handcrafted fabrics.
“Being at Xtant is part of a personal and brand journey to integrate traditional craftsmanship into our daily lives. As traditional cabinetmakers and upholsterers bringing historical crafts into the 21st century, we’re already invested. We haven’t strayed from that path despite growing over the years. Expanding to support other artisans — first in Portugal and later across borders as we gain confidence and resources — feels like a natural next step forward,” says Luis De Oliveira.
Our exhibition included work from our artisan partners in the world of weaving and textiles.
Fabricaal, a Monsaraz-based workshop specialising in Portuguese blankets hand woven on manual looms, has collaborated with De La Espada since 2021, and their intricate woollen textiles can be found on special editions of Capo Lounge Armchair and Twenty-Five Dining Chair. At Xtant, we exhibited an upholstery collection created in collaboration with the workshop, a classic pattern from the Fabricaal portfolio in a set of colours developed with the De La Espada design team. We also previewed special editions of select furniture integrating these textiles.
Flores Textile Studio, a Lisbon-based interior design studio and textile showroom that works closely with local artisans, created the Flores Linen textile De La Espada offers on our Arts & Crafts Cabinet. This linen is made using an entirely artisanal process, from the growing and harvesting of the flax to the spinning and weaving of the yarn, to the dyeing of the textile. At Xtant, we presented new colourways of this linen, naturally hand-dyed in Paris by Isabelle Ormieres, to expand the possibilities for the Arts & Crafts Cabinet.
London-based textile artist Catarina Riccabona works with eco-friendly yarns including linen, hemp, undyed or plant-dyed wools, and recycled yarns, allowing the materials, colours and her intuition to guide her while she hand weaves one-of-a-kind pieces on her dobby loom. Two Arts & Crafts Cabinets by De La Espada Atelier feature single-edition textile art she created specially for them. At Xtant, we exhibited one of these cabinets to showcase the collaboration, and Catarina also presented a selection of textiles from her wider portfolio.
PASSA AO FUTURO AT XTANT
This year’s Xtant also featured Passa Ao Futuro, the Portuguese nonprofit organisation we are proud to support, which promotes the future of traditional Portuguese crafts through research, collaborative projects, and programs with social and environmental impact.
At Xtant, they exhibited pieces created during their Plant-Based Design Residencies — collaborations between contemporary designers and artisans that aim to innovate and secure the future of basket weaving techniques.
IN CONVERSATION
We were proud to take part in the Huaca Conversations series with the talk Huaca of the Heart: Remembering Fatima Durkee's Legacy. A warm, insightful conversation between Luis De Oliveira and Kavita Parmar honoured the important work of the Passa Ao Futuro co-founder and how her organisation continues to build a strong future for generations-old craft.
In the discussion, Kavita Parmar said, “It was really magical to see how this human just came into our lives, was willing to push us all, and every time an idea came, she would just push it higher. Her name is Fatima Durkee. She, I would say, is, because I feel she is here with us today, an extraordinary human who truly has built something that has crossed all boundaries. She is the co-founder, with Astrid Suzano, of Passa Ao Futuro.”
Photos by Coral
XTANT WORKSHOPS
A truly engaging experience, Xtant invited visitors and participants to try different weaving techniques in workshops led by select exhibitors. This not only helped build relationships, but led to a greater understanding of the time and skill that goes into the creation of each piece.
Simon shares his experience with the workshops:
“I had the pleasure of taking part in three workshops on weaving with natural fibres, a craft for which I have a personal passion and which has also inspired and influenced some of the designs for the De La Espada Atelier collection. It was deeply satisfying to learn more about three different ways to weave, work and create something from willow, bark and rice straw.”
Random woven basket by Simon and Yuki
Simon at the workshop
“It was a privilege to learn from master basket weavers Carlos Fontales and Hilary Burns, who both hold an immense knowledge of the craft. From guidance on how to create a random woven structure and a flat basket platter, to splitting willow and bark to prepare for weaving, and making a rope, Hilary and Carlos shared their knowledge generously.”
Workshop with Hilary Burns
Simon's willow basketry platter
Photos by Simon
Simon continues, “It was equally a joy to meet and learn from Eri, who started her brand WARA and creative journey making Shimenawa and Sekimori stones more recently (in 2020) after working as a Kimono stylist.
Eri taught us about Zazen (Buddhist meditation) followed by the making of a Shimenawa and finishing with a special treat of fresh green tea harvested this season. It was fascinating to feel the dry rice straw regain its life, as it was sprayed with water, to make it possible to twist and make into a rope and shape into the Shimenawa she had designed for Xtant, symbolising the Mallorcan sun.”
Dry rice straw
Twisted rice straw
Eri making the thin rope
Simon's Shimenawa
Photos by Simon
“Working on the basket in Hilary’s workshop reminded me of a quote I read by E. Sharpe during the research for the Arts and Crafts collection: ‘…And herein lies the real argument for hand made things. For the mind works through the hand, guiding the tool, more directly than through the machine, and the article made acquires a more human quality, and conversely the appeal is more direct back to the mind that uses and enjoys it.’
This is something one could see and feel all around the many wonderful things on show at Xtant. From intricate embroidery, ancient printing and dying techniques, hand spun & hand woven textiles, to hand sewn garments, and many more wonderful hand crafts, this spirit of a more human quality was to be found in each corner of Xtant.
I wish I could have taken part in even more of the workshops on offer.”
SELECT EXHIBITOR HIGHLIGHTS
Every exhibitor at Xtant shared work with integrity and creative interest. Simon shares some of his exhibitor highlights below.
All photography in this sectioin by Simon unless otherwise credited
It was a pleasure to meet Sam from AAAA, who showed the AAAA collective's work to the right of our cabinet. I was fascinated by the banners made from traditional handmade Malian cotton dyed with fermented mud in striking patterns.
Falé showed wonderful tactile and monochrome wall hangings totally handmade from hand-spun, organic, rain-fed, hand-picked Senegalese cotton.
Ana Lamata, a close friend of Kavita (they share a studio in Madrid), and a key person who helped realise Xtant, makes wonderful hats and also creates intricate botanicals made from silk. I enjoyed her company and the conversations with her.
Photo by Yuki Sugiura
I admire the striking black and white dresses and more quiet garments with delicate gold embroidery by Karishma Shahani Khan for her label Ka-Sha, another of our neighbours.
I adore the pattern and colours of Morayo Ossê's work from Benin.
Sufiyan showed wonderful and varied hand-block printed textiles.
I love his genius technique of ‘Button Masala’ and his cheerful personality.
I love the magical fabrics and textile sculptures created by Neha, made from copper wire, silk, and natural dyes. These delicate textiles really ought to be appreciated in person as pictures simply don't do them justice.
GGrippo created a serene tea space in a small inner courtyard. Sadly, I did not manage to join for one of his tea ceremonies. I hope to visit his gallery and tea room in Brooklyn on my next visit to NYC.
I admire Angharad's determination and passion for her project of working with rural Chiapas communities and supporting Maya women and their artistry.
A deeply moving and powerful experience was the installation of ‘Threading Memory’, a project initiated by Mary Evers. Honouring, grieving, and remembering the many thousands of people killed in the war in Gaza. It was impossible to look at this installation without feeling overwhelmed with emotions.
The IOWEYOU collection by Kavita Parmar is made with artisan communities across the globe. I love her garments in the beautiful, soft, and lightweight Madras check cotton fabric. Every piece is different as each weaver has their own take on the Madras check pattern.
Photo by Yuki Sugiura
Another lovely neighbour. I like the earthy tones and graphic patterns of her label A. Vetra. She collaborates closely with local textile manufacturers based in Northeast Italy.
Brinda Dudhat and Kabir of Morii showed some absolutely stunning and intricate embroidered textile art. The flow of the embroidery and reflection of the thread gives the pieces a wonderful painterly appearance.
I love the garments from RaasLeela with their joyful and uplifting embroidery. Founded by Hetal Shrivastav, RaasLeela runs a zero-waste studio, creating 100% hand sewn and embroidered products each piece one-of-a-kind.
Álvaro showed the fascinating Frafra tapestry which is based on an architectural plan interpreted by the artisans working together on this large piece made from elephant grass.
Photo by Alvaro Catalán de Ocón
Ariana Baltierrez showed beautiful woven leather shoes made locally, working with the local artisans on a mission to review the footwear heritage in Mallorca.
AFTERGLOW
The community spirit of Xtant helps to build a strong network of global artisans, encourage collaboration, and help people reconnect to the meaning in craft on a deeper level.
As Catarina explains, “I think the biggest moment for me happened after the event when I realised the profound effect that all the impressions still had on me. I felt as if in a state of afterglow. My heart was full, my mood uplifted, inspired and hopeful. I felt good about my profession and the choices that led me to what I am doing today and to embrace slow and conscious ways of working.”
Left to right: Architectural detail at Can Vivot, Wall hanging by GGrippo in his tea space, Button Masala pieces by Anuj Sharma hang from strips of Madras cotton by Kavita, Sekimori stone by Wara on the Flores Textile Studio linen in our Arts & Crafts cabinet.
Photos by Yuki Sugiura
