Immerse yourself in the unique world of Maison Brochier Soieries and its artisanal silk workshop, located in the heart of Lyon, the historical birthplace of silk in France.
This private production facility passionately preserves a rare craft: hand-printing on silk, using traditional techniques invented in Lyon in the early 20th century.
During this immersive guided tour of the workshops, you will discover the behind-the-scenes workings of an artisanal craft passed down from generation to generation. In an authentic and welcoming atmosphere, our artisans will take you through the various stages of production: from the preparation of the fabrics to the meticulous finishing touches.
You will see live demonstrations of “Lyon-style” screen printing – an iconic method once used by Lyon's major manufacturers – as well as block printing, another traditional technique that is now almost extinct. You will learn how the rolls of silk are stretched out on the long printing tables, how the coloured pastes are prepared in a veritable “colour kitchen,” and how each pattern is applied with extreme precision.
The workshop preserves a unique heritage with more than 3,000 original printing screens, some dating back to the 1950s, and continues to use them on a daily basis. This wealth of graphic resources allows for a wide variety of patterns, blending heritage and contemporary design.
As the highlight of the tour, you will go upstairs to see an exceptional demonstration of hand-painting on silk velvet panne, a Lyonnais speciality that is as delicate as it is impressive. This rare, entirely manual process reveals all the artistry and finesse of an exceptional craft, long prized by the biggest names in haute couture.
This unique experience will not only allow you to discover a living craft, but also to better understand Lyon's central role in the history of silk. Combining tradition, heritage and passion, the tour of the Maison Brochier Soieries printing workshop is an invitation to slow down time and contemplate the excellence of a French savoir-faire that is still very much alive.
