It is in Cambounet-sur-Sor, located in the south of the Tarn, in a traditional family domain that Pastel de la Serre has its origin.
Specialized in the production of woad, an ancestral dye plant allowing the obtaining of a blue pigment. For several years now, this company has aimed to cultivate this plant in an eco-responsible and environmentally friendly manner, while preserving traditional know-how. Pastel de la Serre is the only site in France where you can discover the entire production chain. From the cultivation of the woad to the dyeing, through the extraction of the pigment to the organic cosmetics. La Fabrique d’Aventures went to meet Bruno Berthoumieux, a passionate woad producer who has been harvesting and dyeing woad for over 12 years in the Domaine de la Serre.
Pastel field on the Pastel de la Serre estate
1/ Can you explain how Pastel de la Serre was born and how your company is part of the Occitan cultural heritage?
The company Pastel de la Serre was born about ten years ago. It is the result of the merger-acquisition of a structure of essential oils of woad and distillation. In view of the economic situation and the demand for woad cultivation, we decided to create the only place in Occitania where visitors can see woad cultivation, extraction and dyeing in the old-fashioned way without chemicals.
2/ How is your company a key player in the preservation of Occitan culture?
It is an actor of the preservation because it is necessary to know that the culture of the pastel disappeared. We are practically the only ones. Currently we are still 3 to propose our service. However the 2 others stopping this year, that will make Pastel de le Serre in 2024, the only actor in Europe to propose the culture of the field of the woad, the extraction of the pigment and the dyeing in the former without chemical product.
3/ What distinguishes Pastel de la Serre products from other similar products on the market, especially those from other regions?
The clearest distinction is the traceability. No one today is able to prove the origin of the pigment except us. At Pastel de la Serre, we guarantee traceability as in cosmetic products, that is to say that you have a lot number that proves that the product was exploited, cultivated on the site, that with one ton of leaves we made one kilo of pigment and that with this pigment we dyed the dye. We are so sure of what we propose that you have a guarantee of traceability, i.e. if the product comes from the dyeing, we will send it back to you free of charge.
4/ How does Pastel de la Serre contribute to the preservation of the environment in Occitania?
It is necessary to know that in our dyeing process, everything is recyclable. Indeed, for example, what we use for the extraction of the pigment is water but this water is reusable to water the fields. The dye is 150% recyclable. That is to say that if you have a dyed scarf and after 5 years you don’t want it to be dyed anymore, we have the possibility to take back the pigment that is in the fabric and to reuse it in a natural way.
Dyeing a scarf with pastel
5/ What are your future projects to help promote Occitan culture and support the local economy in Occitania?
Currently, we are working on 3 future projects. First, the current pigment extraction is done by maceration of the leaves in heated water. We wish to return to more traditional techniques. Indeed, in the past the extraction was done by maceration in the open air. We are therefore working on the extraction of the pigment in the same way as in the days of the Pays de Cocagne, that means extraction and maceration in the open air in the form of compost. The interest is that we will no longer use heat to heat the tank.
The second point is that we are working on the dyeing of the leather since this material dyes very well.
And the third project is that we will soon offer paper for sale. In fact, normally, the pastel leaves that have been exploited go into the compost. From now on we will reuse these leaves to make paper with a traditional paper mill for 6 generations that is located in the region.
