Stéphanie Trolez – Straw marquetry and natural dyeing artisan

Ile de France – 1973

Born into a family of Compagnons du Devoir (the prestigious French craftsmen’s guild), Stéphanie Trolez, a straw marquetry artisan, initially worked in architecture for 26 years. In 2019, she embarked on a career change to reconnect with raw materials and hands-on craftsmanship. Fascinated by wood and the interplay of colors of straw, she trained in marquetry at the École Boulle and earned a vocational certificate in cabinetmaking at La Bonne Graine. In 2022, supported by the SCOP Alter Batir cooperative, she launched her entrepreneurial venture and founded her workshop, Atelier LASTO in Montreuil.

The uniqueness of her work lies in her deeply respectful and masterful approach to the raw material. She grows her own rye on a family plot in the Poitou region, which has already yielded five harvests of 25 kg each. Furthermore, she dyes the straw herself, using exclusively plant-based dyes.

Stéphanie has developed a contemporary approach to straw marquetry, mastering every stage from design to the creation of the final pieces. She offers her expertise to architects, designers, as well as prestigious houses such as Dior.

2023, 2024 – Concours Ateliers d’art de France (Nominee, Île-de-France Region)

2023 – Prix Excellence de l’artisanat d’art of Seine-Saint-Denis (Young Talent Award)

Research and innovation

In response to artificial dyes, Stéphanie has revived the 19th-century craft of botanical straw dyeing. She creates unique recipes, meticulously adjusting her plant selection, dosage, and maceration times. Her palette already features around thirty shades, with the development of a stable, intense blue remaining the central challenge of her research.

Atelier Lasto also embodies its CSR commitment through sustainable resource management. The workshop grows its own rye, uses only plant extracts or local resources for its dyes, collects rainwater, and fully exhausts the dye baths. This dedication guarantees an eco-responsible production process, free from excessive waste.

Transmission

Stéphanie has made passing on her craft a priority, dedicating one day a week to it. She shares her passion through brief introductory workshops in straw marquetry and advanced, tailor-made training sessions. Every month, she invites the public to discover her workshop through “Explore Paris”, and she is a regular participant in the JEMA.

As an essential part of her production process, the natural bleaching of rye straw depends on optimal exposure to light. However, because the current drying spaces do not allow enough UV rays to penetrate, the bleaching of the straw is limited. Stéphanie is seeking the Fondation‘s support to replace the existing terracotta tiles with glass tiles, which will significantly increase the flow of natural light.