Morocco has always dressed to impress. Its colours are bolder, its textiles richer, its craft traditions older than most. And right now, a new generation of designers is weaving all of that heritage into something utterly contemporary — slow fashion with real soul, made by hand, in limited runs, from locally sourced materials. Led by fashion influencer Denise Boomkens, this retreat takes you inside that world: into the ateliers of modern makers, alongside the women’s collectives keeping centuries-old embroidery traditions alive, and into a styling session unlike any other — a one-off fashion souk created just for you at El Fenn, where the making, the trying-on and the joy of getting dressed together is very much the point.

‘El Fenn’ means ‘house of art’ and our permanent collection features pieces from all over the world. Add in the fact that Marrakech is one of the key hubs of the ever-evolving African art scene and you’ve got all the ingredients for a truly inspiring few days. El Fenn co-founder and curator Vanessa Branson, who also chaired six editions of the ground-breaking Marrakech Biennale, will take on a trip through the city’s exciting art scene – from sharing the secrets of our collection to the city’s most exciting galleries and museums. Get the chance to do a unique full-day workshop with leading contemporary Moroccan artist Rita Alaoui. 

Sophie’s retreats sell out every year because the ‘Queen of Colour’ passion for Moroccan interiors is truly inspiring. Now she’s back at El Fenn to share more of her favourite places and makers with you. Each day will focus on a different theme – from artisans and contemporary designers to using colour and styling your own home. Sophie’s morning masterclasses will ease you into the day, preparing you for what you will see. You’ll meet traditional artisans, as well as some of the city’s most innovative modern makers, and attend a special interiors styling session with Sophie and El Fenn’s creative director. This is the ultimate in deco inspiration during a four-night trip that will leave you one part energised, another inspired. 

Few places on earth offer quite the same garden inspiration as Morocco. The country’s relationship with plants, water and outdoor space runs deep, from the geometric precision of centuries-old Islamic garden design to the bold, sculptural schemes of contemporary landscape artists who treat horticulture as an art form in its own right. And with water increasingly precious and temperatures rising across the globe, the principles behind Moroccan garden-making, drought-tolerant planting, shade, structure and sustainability, have never felt more relevant. Led by acclaimed landscape architect Bob Bell, this retreat takes you inside all of it: the historic gardens, the design inspiration, the zellige workshops, and a design session where you’ll start to map out how to bring it all home.