The association « le temps du costume » has been created in 2003; the aim of this association is the transmittal, the continuity and the revitalization of our regional customs.

Arles’ costume, dances and music are the directions that we have chosen to perpetuate our cultural heritage.
We are located in Nîmes, a town in the south of France, in the boundaries of the Provence and Languedoc.
Geographically situated in Languedoc, our heart and culture belongs to the Provence.

Nîmes, “the roman town” has a huge historical past; it is the historical central of the manufacture of cashmere shawl, of the art of silk, of cotton and printed calico. This town offers us the entire cultural heritage necessary to the revitalization of our costumes.

The charter members of our association transmit to the young generation their knowledge; they are specialists of the costume of Arles, masters of dance, members of the master order council, celebrated musicians.

The costume that we most frequently wear, is “contemporain”, it has been immortalized by Leo Lellée, it is the most famous of our costume and it represents the Arlesienne.

We can tell you its history since the end of the 18ème century. This narrative, will explain you the evolution of the Arlesienne’s costume in parallel with the fashion from Paris, without losing its own identity.

There is no male costume in our regional customs, it’s a “French” costume.

The members of the association “le temps du costume” are adult’s people as well as teenagers and children, all of them wear the costume from Arles. They all participate to the dances and music activities.