Introducing Natalie Dupuis’ Barcelona Retreat Design
We are delighted to introduce the Moragas Pocket, one of three beautiful Spanish-inspired embroidery kits developed for our Barcelona Retreat earlier this year and now available to stitch at home.
Created by Natalie Dupuis in collaboration with the Terrassa Textile Museum, this remarkable design takes its inspiration from an opulently embroidered eighteenth-century casaca masculina (gentleman's dress coat).
Richly decorated with coloured silks, spangles and intricate embellishments, the original garment is a wonderful example of the artistry and craftsmanship of its time.
Natalie has taken a jewel-like motif from the pocket of this extraordinary coat and reimagined it as a beautiful embroidery project, designed to be finished as a small purse or pouch.
First enjoyed by our Barcelona Retreat students in April 2026, we are thrilled to make this special design available to stitchers everywhere.
A Coat Designed to Dazzle
The original casaca, dated to the 18th century, is a masterpiece of male formal dress. It is richly embroidered in coloured silks and decorated with spangles, stones, and intricate embellishments that speak to the luxury of its era.
Its floral sprays, scrolling foliage and glittering accents would have caught the candlelight at every movement. Even among the many garments in the museum's collection, this coat is considered particularly lavish.
From the pocket, Natalie has created a contemporary stitched treasure, designed to be finished as a small purse or pouch.. It is a perfect example of how historic details can inspire fresh, personal, and wearable embroidery today.
From this modestly sized motif, Natalie has created a contemporary stitched treasure, designed to be finished as a small purse or pouch.
The Moragas Pomar Collection: A Legacy of Art and Textile Passion
The coat forms part of the prestigious Moragas Pomar Collection, donated to the Terrassa Textile Museum in 1964.
Josep Moragas Pomar (1873–1945) grew up surrounded by art. His father, painter Tomàs Moragas Torras, trained in Barcelona’s vibrant artistic circles and later worked in Italy alongside his close friend Marià Fortuny i Marsal, a connection that proved deeply influential. The Fortuny family themselves were passionate collectors of textiles, and this shared artistic environment ignited Josep’s own lifelong appreciation for historic fabrics and dress.
Travelling widely across Spain, Moragas sought out artistic treasures, particularly those relating to historic clothing, accessories, embroidery, and textiles. After a period living in Paris, he established an antiques shop in Barcelona, although many pieces he acquired never made it to sale. His personal collection soon gained international recognition.
After his death, the collection was partially exhibited in Barcelona and Madrid before being offered for sale. The only group sold as a single lot was the clothing and embroidery, 78 pieces in total, which was acquired by the city of Terrassa in 1962. It became the first major addition of historic dress to the museum’s collection.
Intriguingly, museum catalogues note that the embroidered silk coat used by Natalie as her inspiration once belonged to a member of the Fortuny family, perhaps father or son. Given the close ties between the Moragas and Fortuny households, such an exchange of textiles is entirely plausible.
Today, thanks to this rich lineage of artistic passion and collecting, the coat is preserved at the Terrassa Textile Museum, where its details continue to inspire new generations of designers and embroiderers.
Bringing the Moragas Pocket to Life
During our Barcelona Retreat, Natalie guided students through the recreation of this beautiful historic motif, exploring the colours, materials and techniques that make the original embroidery so remarkable.
Now, we are delighted to share the Moragas Pocket with our wider needlework community.
Through this kit, you can enjoy recreating a small part of an extraordinary eighteenth-century garment, bringing a treasured piece of Barcelona's textile heritage into your own embroidery frame.
What's Included in Your Moragas Pocket Kit
Everything you need to recreate this exquisite eighteenth-century-inspired design, with carefully selected materials that reflect the richness and delicacy of the original embroidery.
Your kit includes:
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Regal Silk: A beautiful piece of Purple Smoke silk by James Hare, with the design delicately printed onto the fabric, together with calico backing.
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DeVere Silks: Six carefully selected shades of fine silk thread, in a soft palette of creams, peaches and warm pinks.
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Spangles: Silver-plated and gilt spangles in four sizes, bringing the sparkle and opulence of historic embroidery to your finished piece.
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Crystal Embellishments: Beautiful navette-shaped crystals in clear and iridescent purple, adding a jewel-like finish to the design.
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Needles and Threads: A selection of embroidery needles, together with specialist sewing, beading and invisible threads.
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Detailed Instructions: A comprehensive instruction booklet, stitch chart, colour chart, direction chart and full-size template to guide you through the project.
Inspired by the extraordinary eighteenth-century embroidered coat in the Moragas Pomar Collection at the Terrassa Textile Museum, this kit offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the intricate silk embroidery and embellishment techniques of historic dress, recreating a treasured piece of Barcelona's textile heritage in your own hands.
Available from Tuesday 19th September 2026 as part of our Natalie Dupuis Collection.
