The rhythmic clatter echoes. A symphony of gears and looms. This is La Manufacture.
La Manufacture Museum of Textile Memory and Creation isn’t just a museum. It’s a time machine. Step inside and you’re transported to the heart of Roubaix’s textile past. The very building breathes history. It once housed Craye et fils a company specializing in upholstery fabrics. Founded in 1914 by Israel Jean-Baptiste Craye it thrived for decades.
In the 1960s Craye et fils shifted its focus. They began producing mechanical copies of medieval Flemish tapestries. A fascinating blend of old and new. The company’s fortunes eventually declined. In 1992 a Belgian group Metrax took over. Their CEO had a visionary idea. In 2001 he transformed an unused workshop into a jacquard museum. He called it La Manufacture des Flandres.
But the story doesn’t end there. In 2009 Metrax moved production to Belgium. The museum’s collections were donated to the city of Roubaix. The city bought the building. Renovations followed. In 2015 La Manufacture Museum of Textile Memory and Creation opened its doors.
Explore the hall of machines. You’ll see hand-powered looms from the Middle Ages. They sit alongside the sophisticated computer-assisted machines of today. The evolution of weaving is on display. The lives and working conditions of textile workers are also highlighted. Many machines are still functional and demonstrated during guided tours.
Listen to the voices of textile workers. Their stories are shared. Archival videos from INA offer insights into the textile adventure in the region. La Manufacture explores the future too. Innovative materials and fabrics from regional companies are showcased.
La Manufacture also hosts temporary exhibitions. These celebrate contemporary textile creation. Workshops are offered throughout the year. Past exhibitions featured artists like Mai Tabakian Elodie Wysocki and Akané Yorita. International collaborations are common. Local themes are also explored. The museum partners with institutions like ENSAIT and La Piscine Museum.
La Manufacture is more than a museum. It’s a testament to Roubaix’s rich textile heritage. A tribute to the skill and ingenuity of its workers. A vibrant center for contemporary creativity. Leave La Manufacture with a deeper understanding of textiles and the city that built its reputation on them.