La Manufacture de Roubaix
Highlights
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© 2022
La Manufacture was built on the grounds of the former Craye textile factory. It is far more than a traditional museum—it is a place of living memory dedicated to the industrial soul of Roubaix.
Here, the history of textile production in the region becomes tangible through an exciting, sensory experience. Amidst historical and contemporary machinery, visitors witness how wool is spun into yarn and finally woven into the finest fabric.
Fabrics that Tell Stories
The exhibition allows for a seamless tracing of fabric production from the Middle Ages to the present day. It is not just about technology, but primarily about the people whose fates are inextricably woven into the hard work at the machines. You hear the clatter, feel the textures, and comprehend the complexity of Jacquard weaving.
From Family Business to Museum
The museum's roots lie in the company Craye et fils, a weaving mill for upholstery fabrics founded in 1914. The company gained worldwide renown for its velvet, carpets, and magnificent Jacquard fabrics. In the 1960s, they even specialized in the machine manufacturing of medieval Flemish tapestries.
Following the takeover by the Metrax Group in 1992, the "Manufacture des Flandres" was initially established in an unused workshop. When production was finally moved to Belgium in 2009, the city of Roubaix purchased the site and the collections. After a comprehensive renovation in 2014, the site was reopened as "La Manufacture"—a monument to the creative power of the region.
