The image of the Virgin of the Forsaken came out at 10:32 a.m. through the door of the Basilica wearing a new light brown mantle, baptized as Terreta. It is a gift from the Fallera Mayor of Valencia 2026, Carmen Prades, who followed the transfer from the balcony of the Casa Vestuario. The piece, made by Vives y Marí, shares the background dyeing with the official brocade that Carmen used in her exaltation and incorporates an allegorical drawing of the Virgin of Carmen.
The technical process of the mantle: dyeing and custom design 🧵
The making of the Terreta mantle required prior dyeing work to match the background color with the official brocade of the Fallera Mayor. The Vives y Marí workshops applied an artisanal dyeing process on natural silk, achieving a uniform light brown. The design incorporates an allegory of the Virgin of Carmen hand-embroidered with gold and silk threads. The structure of the mantle allows for occasional use, although after the transfer it will undergo restoration to correct possible damage resulting from friction and movement during the procession.
A mantle that already has an appointment at the celestial dry cleaner ✨
The Terreta mantle has arrived to stay, but not without first passing through the repair workshop. After taking a stroll through the streets of Valencia, the Virgin has already made it clear that mud and friction spare no one, not even high-end celestial fashion designs. The good thing is that when they hang it in the patron saint's collection, Carmen Prades will be able to say that her gift was not a flash in the pan, but fabric for a long time. And between restorations and occasional uses, this mantle promises more chapters than an afternoon soap opera.