Vide Commode de Saint-Étienne-du-Grès

The Vide Commode de Saint-Étienne-du-Grès: The Arles Costume Event

Every spring, the Salle Pierre Emmanuel in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès hosts the Vide Commode organized by the association Lou Riban Esteven. This annual event brings together enthusiasts of the traditional Arles costume in a covered and friendly setting, in the heart of an authentic Provençal village at the foot of the Alpilles. The concept of an Arlesian costume car boot sale allows wearers of the costume to sell, exchange, or acquire the necessary pieces to compose, restore, or embellish their traditional outfit.

A Car Boot Sale Specializing in Arlesian Costume

The Vide Commode de Saint-Étienne-du-Grès is distinguished by its specialization in the world of the Arles costume. The stalls offer a wide variety of dedicated items:

• Arlesian ribbons, emblematic pieces of the costume, worn as headdresses or ornaments
• Parasols and parade accessories
• Fabrics, silks, and laces for making or repairing costumes
• Traditional fichus and shawls
• Provençal jewelry: brooches, earrings, crosses, and pendants passed down through generations
• Embroidery and boutis, exceptional Provençal textile art
• Complete costume elements for women, children, and men
• Small haberdashery and decorative items related to Arlesian tradition

Lou Riban Esteven, Guardian of Provençal Traditions

The association Lou Riban Esteven, based in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, is dedicated to the preservation and transmission of Provençal cultural heritage. Presided over by Célestine Gutierrez, it offers throughout the year courses in traditional dance, Arlesian hairdressing, sewing, the Provençal language, galoubet, and singing. The organization of the Vide Commode is part of this mission of transmission, allowing costume wearers to access authentic pieces and perpetuate this centuries-old sartorial art.

Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, Gateway to the Alpilles

Saint-Étienne-du-Grès is a charming Provençal village located at the foot of the Alpilles massif, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. Attached to Tarascon until 1935 in the form of two hamlets, Laurade and Saint-Étienne, the village became an independent commune and now has about 2,500 inhabitants. Its territory has been classified within the Regional Natural Park of the Alpilles since 2007. The village's heritage testifies to a rich history: the church dedicated to Saint Stephen, the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Château classified as a Historic Monument, the mysterious Roman statue of La Mourgue, and the remains of a Templar commandery founded at the end of the 12th century mark the communal territory.

A Village Rooted in Provençal Tradition

Saint-Étienne-du-Grès is deeply attached to its Provençal traditions, which culminate annually in August with the Fête de Saint Éloi and the carreto ramado, a typical flower-decorated cart parade of Arlesian Provence. The village is also known for housing Les Olivades, a family business founded in 1977 that perpetuates the ancestral art of Provençal fabric printing. The Vide Commode organized by Lou Riban Esteven is fully integrated into this village identity, where the Arles costume is not a folkloric relic but a living tradition, worn with pride during votive festivals and cultural gatherings.

The Salle Pierre Emmanuel, a Covered and Accessible Venue

The Foyer Pierre-Emmanuel, located on Avenue de la République, offers a 750 m² space perfectly suited for hosting an indoor car boot sale. This versatile venue has 60 parking spaces, restrooms, and easy access from the roads connecting Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Tarascon, and Arles. The covered format guarantees the comfort of exhibitors and visitors, protected from the mistral wind that can blow in late March in Provence.