While Europe now imports most of the silk it processes, an ambitious project is taking shape in Romania: to revive a sericulture sector that has all but disappeared and establish a leading research centre dedicated to silkworms and mulberry cultivation in Băneasa, near Bucharest.

Led by the Băneasa Sericulture Research Station and supported by the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the project aims to gradually rebuild an entire silk production chain, from mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing to the production and processing of silk thread.

Brochier Soieries is contributing to this ambitious initiative through the involvement of Eliza Ploia, a member of the International Sericultural Commission. From Lyon, she is helping to build connections between Romanian and French teams and facilitating the transfer of knowledge and expertise needed to support this revival.

Romania, a Historic Land of Silk

Silk has a long history in Europe. Introduced via Greece as early as the 6th century, sericulture gradually spread across the continent from the Middle Ages onwards. In Romania, it became firmly established in Wallachia during the 18th century before developing extensively in the 19th century, particularly across the Danube Plain. Silk, known in Romanian as “borangic”, became part of domestic textile production in rural households.

As in France and much of Europe, the industry subsequently went into gradual decline. Silkworm diseases, the emergence of man-made fibres and increasing competition from Asian countries progressively weakened European production. In Romania, sericulture survived for longer, particularly during the Communist period, before declining rapidly from the 1990s onwards.

Today, only a small number of Romanian producers remain and the sector is still in its infancy. Yet the many mulberry trees found throughout the country continue to bear witness to the importance sericulture once held there.

It is upon this heritage that Romania now hopes to rebuild.

Băneasa: A New Research Centre for the Future of Sericulture

At the heart of this revival is the Băneasa-Bucharest Sericulture Research Station.

Established in its current form in 2023 as a public institution under the authority of the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is the heir to a long tradition of sericultural research. Among its most valuable resources is an exceptional genetic heritage comprising 84 pure lines of Bombyx mori, the domesticated silkworm.

Under the direction of Teodor Mihalcea, the station is now undergoing a major programme of development: the construction of a modern research centre, the creation of a team of researchers and technicians, the preservation and improvement of silkworm strains, research into mulberry varieties and the development of improved rearing techniques.

Together with two additional development sites in Cislău and Dolj, the new Băneasa centre is expected to be fully operational from 2027. With its new facilities and remarkable genetic resources, its ambition is to become a European reference centre for sericultural research.

But the objective extends far beyond scientific research alone. In the longer term, the revival plan envisages rebuilding the entire production chain: increasing the area planted with mulberry trees, training silkworm breeders, expanding cocoon production, developing new silk-reeling facilities, and ultimately rebuilding silk throwing and weaving capabilities.

The ambition is therefore to revive a genuine silk production sector in Romania.

Eliza Ploia: Building a Bridge Between Lyon and Romania

Eliza Ploia

It was in 2024 that Eliza Ploia first learned about the project to revive the Băneasa Research Station.

Born in Romania and based in Lyon since 2004, Eliza has worked with Brochier Soieries since 2005. Since 2014, she has also maintained an educational silkworm (Bombyx mori) breeding programme at Brochier Soieries Vieux Lyon, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the different stages of the silkworm’s life cycle through to the production of its precious thread.

Each year, she also provides silkworm eggs to nearly 200 schools in France and across Europe for educational breeding projects. Her interest in sericulture also led her to become a member of the International Sericultural Commission.

When she learned in 2024 that Romania had reactivated its sericulture research station, she contacted its director, Teodor Mihalcea. A first meeting took place in Lyon in May 2025 during a visit by a delegation from the International Sericultural Commission, followed by a visit to Băneasa in July of the same year.

Eliza then proposed establishing an exchange of expertise between the Romanian team and French sericulture specialists.

An initiative that soon began to take very concrete form.

From Lyon to Băneasa: Sharing and Passing On Expertise

On 16 and 17 March 2026, Eliza Ploia and Signorino Leonardi travelled to Băneasa for a new working visit. As members of the International Sericultural Commission, they helped establish a technical and scientific collaboration aimed at preserving Romania’s genetic resources and supporting the redevelopment of silkworm rearing.

The visit also provided an opportunity to assess the existing facilities and identify the technical, scientific and economic requirements involved in rebuilding Romanian silk production.

A further step was taken from 24 to 28 May 2026. Under the auspices of Brochier Soieries – Vieux Lyon, Michel Costa, an agronomist and sericulture specialist, and Alexandra Gaidos, an economist and co-president of Cévennes en Soie, travelled to Romania. Their mission directly continued the work initiated by Eliza Ploia and Signorino Leonardi two months earlier.

Michel Costa brings particularly valuable expertise to the project. Based in Monoblet, in the Cévennes region of southern France, he has extensive knowledge of the entire sericultural process, from mulberry cultivation and propagation to silkworm rearing and cocoon reeling. He has also taken part in several international technical-assistance missions dedicated to silk production.

The collaboration initiated by Eliza is therefore helping to connect Băneasa’s scientific and genetic resources with sericultural expertise that remains alive in France.

30,000 Mulberry Seeds and New Training Projects

This cooperation is now beginning to translate into concrete action.

Michel Costa has donated 30,000 mulberry seeds to the Băneasa Research Station. The Romanian team plans to begin its first sowing trials in 2027, with the aim of studying the propagation and selection of varieties suited to local conditions.

Mulberry cultivation is a fundamental part of any sericulture revival: the quality and quantity of leaves available directly determine the successful rearing of silkworms and, ultimately, cocoon production.

A practical training programme in the Cévennes is also being discussed for spring 2027. Members of the Băneasa team could join Michel Costa in Monoblet when he begins his annual silkworm rearing cycle, allowing them to receive hands-on training in both sericulture and mulberry cultivation.

The transfer of expertise has emerged as one of the central issues identified during the various missions. After several decades during which European sericulture virtually disappeared, some of its knowledge and skills now need to be recovered, shared and passed on to a new generation of researchers and producers. The May report therefore highlights the importance of training those who will manage future pilot farms and of developing a genuine European and international network around Băneasa.

A Movement Extending Beyond Romania

This revival is now attracting interest well beyond Romania itself.

In October 2026, the International Sericultural Commission will meet in Romania, with the programme including visits to silk-reeling facilities that remain in operation. The meeting reflects the growing momentum in the region and the desire to reconnect researchers, producers and silk-processing specialists.

Behind the Romanian project lies a broader question: what future is there for silk production in Europe?

Both France and Romania once mastered the entire production chain, from mulberry cultivation to silk reeling. Today, Europe is highly dependent on Asia for its supply of silk thread. Rebuilding European production will take time and require investment, research and, above all, the transmission of skills that have become increasingly rare.

With its sericultural heritage, favourable environmental conditions and textile expertise, Romania nevertheless has significant assets that could enable it to play a pioneering role in this European revival.

Visit of the International Sericultural Commission to Brochier Soieries Vieux Lyon on 19 May 2025, with delegations from Romania, India, Bangladesh, Japan, Thailand, Uganda, Ghana and Mozambique

Brochier Soieries: Committed to the Future of Silk

For Brochier Soieries, supporting this initiative is a natural extension of the history of a House that has worked with and transformed silk in Lyon since 1890.

For more than a century, the House has preserved and passed on expertise associated with this exceptional material. But preserving silk does not simply mean preserving the skills required to weave, print or transform it. It also means looking to the very origins of the material, its production, and the women and men who still hold the knowledge required to produce it.

Through Eliza Ploia’s involvement, the connections established between Băneasa, Lyon and the Cévennes, and the exchange of expertise now taking shape, Brochier Soieries hopes, in its own way, to contribute to passing on sericultural knowledge and to the revival of silk production in Europe.

L’article Reviving Silk Production in Europe: Brochier Soieries Supports Romania’s Sericulture Revival est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

Prototype silk square based on a work by Marc Chagall, printed by Brochier Soieries (1958)

For the exhibition Sublimer l’étoffe. Artistes et créateurs de mode face au sacré (Sublimating Fabric: Artists and Fashion Designers in Dialogue with the Sacred), the Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs and the Musée de Fourvière are presenting two works produced by Brochier Soieries for Galerie Maeght, based on works by Joan Miró and Marc Chagall.

On display at the Musée de Fourvière from 17 September 2026 to 3 January 2027, these two pieces bear witness to an extraordinary history shared by the Lyon-based silk house, Galerie Maeght and some of the greatest artists of the 20th century — a story that began in 1953 with Joan Miró.

Joan Miró’s Constellations: an exceptional work printed on silk

For the exhibition, Brochier Soieries is lending one of the emblematic pieces from its collections: Joan Miró’s Constellations, a 120 × 120 cm silk square printed on precious silk gazar.

The first edition was produced in 1964 by Joseph Brochier for Galerie Maeght, followed thirty years later by a second edition, produced in 1994 by Cédric Brochier, once again for Galerie Maeght.

The creation of this piece illustrates the encounter between artistic creation and Lyon’s silk-making expertise: through textile printing, Miró’s work moves beyond paper or canvas to embrace the transparency and lightness of silk.

That same year, the collaboration with Galerie Maeght continued when Brochier Soieries produced two further silk prints based on works by Raoul Ubac.

Brochier, Miró and Maeght: a story that began in 1953

The collaboration between Brochier Soieries and Galerie Maeght actually dates back even further. It began in 1953, once again with a work by Joan Miró.

At the request of Aimé Maeght, Joseph Brochier took on an extraordinary technical challenge: transposing a work by Miró onto a makemono almost 11 metres long, printed on wild silk canvas.

This spectacular achievement marked the beginning of a long series of collaborations between the House and artists represented by Galerie Maeght. It also reflects a particularly fertile period during which artists, gallerists and Lyon silk makers experimented together with new ways of bringing art into the realm of textiles.

Seventy-three years later, this makemono is preserved and on display at the Musée Soieries Brochier in Lyon.

Marc Chagall: a second Brochier work in the exhibition

Sublimer l’étoffe also presents a second piece from this remarkable history: a prototype silk scarf printed from a drawing by Marc Chagall, published by Galerie Maeght and produced by Brochier Soieries on silk organza.

The first edition was produced by Joseph Brochier in 1958. The work presented in the exhibition is now part of the collections of the Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs de Lyon.

A new edition was produced in 2014 by Cédric Brochier to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fondation Maeght, continuing this historic collaboration between Brochier Soieries and Galerie Maeght more than half a century after the first printing.

When art meets silk

Through Miró and Chagall, as well as Braque, Tàpies and Ubac, the collaborations initiated with Galerie Maeght enabled Brochier Soieries to explore textiles as a genuine artistic medium from an early stage.

It is precisely this dialogue that Sublimer l’étoffe brings to light today. Silk squares, furnishing fabrics and liturgical vestments reveal how textiles allowed artists to experiment with new materials, dimensions and ways of giving form to their work.

The two pieces presented in the exhibition thus highlight an essential aspect of Brochier Soieries’ history: for more than seventy years, the House has placed the expertise of Lyon’s silk-making tradition at the service of artistic creation.

Practical information

Sublimer l’étoffe. Artistes et créateurs de mode face au sacré
17 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
Musée de Fourvière
7–8 place de Fourvière – Lyon 5th arrondissement
Open from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Admission: €8 / €6

Exhibition poster © Sandrine Ziegler-Munck

L’article Exhibition Sublimer l’étoffe: Two Brochier Soieries Works Brought Together by the Musée des Tissus and the Musée de Fourvière est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

The Invisible Collection | @theinvisiblecollection
© Z.d.G.

A silk scarf inspired by a masterpiece of the gardens of Versailles

Through Le Potager du roi, Zoë de Givenchy pays tribute to one of the jewels of French heritage: Le Potager du roi at Versailles. The design of the scarf is based on a historical plan of this exceptional garden, conceived in the 17th century for Louis XIV by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie, whose vision revolutionized fruit and vegetable cultivation by turning the garden into a true masterpiece of composition, innovation, and aesthetics.

This creation reflects Z.d.G.’s commitment to reviving great European artistic traditions through exceptional objects.

Zoë de Givenchy and European craft traditions

Founder and artistic director of the brand Z.d.G., created in 2020, Zoë de Givenchy designs collections inspired by European heritage and the art of living. Her work is built on close collaboration with leading workshops in France, Italy, and Spain, with the aim of preserving artisanal know-how and promoting fine craftsmanship. Wife of Olivier de Givenchy, nephew of couturier Hubert de Givenchy, she develops an approach in which cultural heritage and contemporary creation engage in an elegant dialogue.

A natural resonance with the world of Brochier Soieries

This project immediately found its place within the world of Brochier Soieries. For several years, the House has developed a collection of silk scarves and shawls inspired by Versailles, its architecture, and its gardens. The theme of Le Potager du roi therefore extends this continuity, deepening a dialogue between heritage, textile creation, and Lyon’s silk-making expertise.

A bespoke creation

Made in France by Brochier Soieries from a design by Zoë de Givenchy, the scarf is crafted in silk twill and reflects the excellence of Lyon’s craftsmanship. This collaboration extends beyond the making of the scarf: Brochier Soieries also designed a bespoke packaging, featuring the historical plan of Le Potager du roi. Conceived as an extension of the scarf itself, this case highlights the heritage character of the creation and strengthens the dialogue between the design, the object, and its history.

The silk scarf Le Potager du roi is available on the Z.d.G. website.

L’article The King’s Kitchen Garden: Zoë de Givenchy entrusts the creation of her silk scarf to Brochier Soieries est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

A New Silk Scarf for Plantations, travaux in situ at Giverny

On the occasion of Daniel Buren’s new installation at the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny, Brochier Soieries continues a collaboration with the artist that began more than forty years ago.

Entitled Plantations, travaux in situ, 2026, this new work reflects Daniel Buren’s ongoing exploration of the relationship between artwork, site and perception. To accompany the project, Brochier Soieries has produced a silk scarf based on a design created especially by the artist.

An Edition Conceived with Daniel Buren

For this new project, Daniel Buren developed a design in around ten different colour variations. Following several discussions with the artist, five colourways were selected to create a coherent edition conceived specifically for the Giverny exhibition.

The scarves will be available exclusively from the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny museum shop during the exhibition. They will subsequently become part of the Brochier Soieries collection and continue to be available beyond the event.

A Silk Scarf Crafted in the Brochier Soieries Workshops

The scarf is produced as a 90 × 90 cm silk twill carré, finished with a hand-rolled hem. It is screen printed using the traditional Lyonnais frame-printing technique in the Brochier Soieries workshops, perpetuating one of the House’s historic areas of expertise.

This edition is the second silk scarf created with Daniel Buren, following the one produced in 1994 to mark the redevelopment of Lyon’s Place des Terreaux.

A Long-Standing Creative Partnership

The relationship between Daniel Buren and Brochier Soieries has its roots in the first collaborations initiated by Jacques and Robert Brochier.

It began through the Nouveau Musée in Villeurbanne, later to become the Institut d’Art Contemporain (IAC), then chaired by Robert Brochier. This meeting marked the beginning of a close relationship between Daniel Buren and the Brochier family. Over the years, this partnership has given rise to numerous projects in which artistic creation and textile craftsmanship have continually enriched one another.

Three Landmark Collaborations

Over the decades, many projects have been realised with Daniel Buren. Among them, three particularly illustrate the richness and diversity of this long-standing collaboration.

The Place des Terreaux Silk Scarf (1994)

“This is the first project that comes to mind,” recalls Cédric Brochier.

By then, the collaboration with Daniel Buren was already well established. When Daniel Buren and architect Christian Drevet were commissioned to redesign Lyon’s Place des Terreaux, the idea emerged to create an object celebrating this landmark project.

“Just as we have done today for Giverny, we wanted to create something together. Daniel Buren designed a silk scarf especially for the inauguration.”

The scarf has since become one of the emblematic pieces of the collaboration between the artist and Brochier Soieries. Thirty years later, the Giverny scarf naturally continues this story.

The Guggenheim SoHo Waistcoats (1998)

Among Cédric Brochier’s most memorable collaborations is the project created for the Guggenheim SoHo in New York.

For the exhibition Premises: Invested Spaces in Visual Arts, Architecture & Design from France, 1958–1998, Daniel Buren conceived an installation in which the museum guards became an integral part of the artwork.

“We produced the silk waistcoats they wore. I have always found the idea remarkable: transforming an everyday element of museum life into a work of art.”

In this project, textile became an integral component of the artwork itself, perfectly illustrating Daniel Buren’s ability to transform both space and its uses.

Illuminated Textiles: A New Chapter

From 2003 onwards, the collaboration entered a new phase with the development of the first illuminated textiles.

“It was an entirely new technical adventure. We began developing illuminated textiles for Daniel Buren, notably for an exhibition at the Art & Entreprise gallery founded by Georges Vernet Caron.”

Since then, these creations have accompanied numerous international projects by Daniel Buren, opening new possibilities in the dialogue between textile, light and space.

A Collaboration That Continues

Today, the dialogue between Daniel Buren and Brochier Soieries remains as active as ever.

“We are constantly discussing new projects. There are projects in France, in the United States, and there have been projects in Lebanon… There are always new ideas and new works in preparation.”

With the five silk scarves created for Plantations, travaux in situ, 2026, Brochier Soieries and Daniel Buren are writing a new chapter in a collaboration that has flourished for more than forty years, where artistic creation and textile excellence continue to inspire one another.

L’article Brochier Soieries and Daniel Buren: Forty Years of Collaboration est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

On the occasion of the exhibition Ellsworth Kelly – At the edge of water at the Fondation Maeght, Brochier Soieries continues its long-standing dialogue between artistic creation and textile excellence by producing a silk scarf inspired by the iconic work Red, Yellow, Blue (1963) by the artist.

For more than seventy years, the encounter between the Maeght family and the Brochier family has been driven by a shared ambition: to bring together the arts and artisans, visual artists and silk printers, by transposing onto silk the works of major figures of modern and contemporary creation.

This collaboration began in 1953 with the creation of the first makémono by Joan Miró, initiating a long series of now emblematic editions.

Over the decades, Brochier Soieries has produced silk scarves dedicated to major artists such as Braque, Chagall, Giacometti, Bazaine, Tal Coat, Ubac, Kandinsky, Steinberg, Calder, Chillida, Adami, Palazuelo, Tàpies, Riopelle, Van Velde, Garache, Monory, Artigas, Lindner, Ting, Voss, Kuroda, Fiedler, Klasen, Gasiorowski, Broto, Delprat, Grau, Labauvie, Del Re, Neumann, Lavater, Cortot, Gagnère, Arroyo, Dépin, de Rougemont, Young Boo Lee, Valdés, Léger, Gürbüz, Perrin, Yan Pei-Ming, Martinez, Fukagawa, Doerflinger, Granier de Cassagnac, Roy-Camille, and Matisse.
These textile transpositions reflect a consistent commitment: to create a dialogue between artwork, material, colour, and movement.

Within this lineage, Ellsworth Kelly holds a singular position. Born in 1923, the American artist developed, from the post-war period onward, a body of work defined by economy of means, the power of colour, and the radical simplicity of form. His practice, at the intersection of painting and space, explores perception in its most essential dimension.

While staying in France in 1963, Kelly spent a decisive summer in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, surrounded by gardens and the distinctive light of the region, just before the inauguration of the Fondation Maeght. It was in this context that he created Red, Yellow, Blue, a work that has become emblematic of his pictorial language: a radical composition in which three pure colour fields structure space with absolute simplicity, reducing painting to its perceptual essence.

Presented today at the Fondation Maeght as part of the exhibition dedicated to the artist, this work highlights the continuity between Kelly’s research and the architecture of the site, where art exists in a constant dialogue with light and landscape.

The silk scarf published by Brochier Soieries as a limited edition for the Fondation Maeght extends this visual experience. Through the movement of the fabric, the vibration of colour, and the fluidity of the material, it offers a new interpretation of the work, faithful to Kelly’s spirit: a direct, silent, and luminous abstraction.

Silk scarf “Red, Yellow, Blue” by Ellsworth Kelly, limited edition for the Fondation Maeght.

L’article Brochier Soieries célèbre Ellsworth Kelly avec la Fondation Maeght est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

La bibliothèque de la cité in Lyon la nuit ® Michel Djaoui

Lyon is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading cities for mural art, monumental frescoes and trompe-l’oeil architecture. Since the late 1970s, many blank facades have been transformed into spectacular works of public art, creating a unique urban landscape where history, culture and everyday life meet.

This movement began with CitéCréation, a cooperative founded by former students of the Lyon School of Fine Arts. Their ambition was to bring art out of museums and into the streets, turning entire buildings into large-scale murals celebrating the city’s heritage.

A distinctive aspect of CitéCréation’s work is its participatory approach. Local residents are consulted before each project, ensuring that Lyon’s murals become collective stories that reflect the identity of each neighborhood.

Famous Lyon Murals: A Walking Tour from Croix-Rousse to Old Lyon

This walking itinerary explores some of the most famous Lyon murals, descending from the Croix-Rousse neighborhood to the banks of the Saône and into Old Lyon.

Along the way, visitors discover mural art, hidden traboules, local cafés, silk heritage sites and some of the best murals in Lyon.

A detailed Google Maps itinerary accompanies this walk, together with recommended restaurants, monuments and viewpoints.

Mur des Canuts: One of the Largest Murals in Europe

The walk begins at Hénon metro station, in front of the legendary Mur des Canuts.

Often considered one of the largest murals in Europe, this spectacular mural covers more than 1,200 square metres. Created by CitéCréation, it depicts the daily life of the Croix-Rousse neighborhood through an impressive trompe-l’oeil composition of staircases, workshops, apartments and local residents.

More than a simple fresco, the Mur des Canuts pays tribute to Lyon’s silk workers, known as the canuts. These skilled silk weavers helped make Lyon one of the world’s leading silk capitals during the nineteenth century.

The unusually tall buildings visible throughout the Croix-Rousse neighborhood remind visitors of the large Jacquard looms once used in textile workshops.

Detail of Mur des canuts in Lyon ® Michel Djaoui

A Local Break at Bistrot Jutard

Far from the tourist crowds, this traditional neighborhood café preserves the relaxed atmosphere that has long characterized Croix-Rousse. It is the perfect place to pause before continuing the exploration of Lyon mural art.

Cour des Voraces and the Traboules of Croix-Rousse

The next stop is the famous Cour des Voraces, one of the most iconic traboules in Lyon.

The traboule also illustrates the ingenuity of the canuts, who used these hidden passageways to transport delicate silk fabrics through the city.

Mermet Painted Staircase: A Hidden Piece of Street Art

More discreet than the famous frescoes, the painted staircase on Rue Mermet represents another facet of Lyon street art.

Visitors should remember to turn around while descending the stairs in order to fully appreciate the visual effect. This intervention demonstrates how mural art in Lyon extends beyond large facades to smaller, more intimate urban spaces.

Brochier Soieries: Where Art Meets Silk

As the walk reaches the lower slopes of Croix-Rousse, visitors enter the historic district of Lyon’s silk merchants.

The silk printing workshops of Maison Brochier Soieries are located in what was once the neighborhood of the great silk houses, while the silk workers lived higher up the hill.

The history of silk in Croix-Rousse remains closely linked to the Silk Routes that connected Lyon to international trade networks.

Since 1953, Brochier Soieries has published artists’ works on silk every year. These creations can now be found in museums around the world.

The connection between mural art and textile art remains alive today. Several works by Lyon artist Jakè have been adapted and printed on silk by Brochier Soieries and are available in the workshop boutique. This dialogue between wall and fabric reflects Lyon’s enduring creative spirit.

Silk scarf from the artist Jakè – Soyeux Totem, Maison Brochier Soieries

Silk scarf from the artist Big Ben – I love you 2,  Maison Brochier Soieries

Big Ben’s Ogre at Place de la Paix

The walk then moves towards contemporary street art with L’Ogre by Big Ben.

Unlike the traditional trompe-l’oeil murals created by CitéCréation, this work belongs to a more contemporary visual language. Bold, expressive and playful, it illustrates the diversity of mural art found throughout Lyon.

Fresque des Lyonnais

Located on Rue de la Martinière along the Saône, the Fresque des Lyonnais is undoubtedly one of the most famous Lyon murals.

This monumental fresco portrays many famous people from Lyon looking out from painted windows and balconies. Visitors can spot chef Paul Bocuse, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the Lumière Brothers and numerous other figures who shaped the city’s history.

The Fresque des Lyonnais perfectly embodies the storytelling dimension that makes a mural in Lyon unique. Standing at street level on the quai, visitors can admire dozens of historical characters while enjoying a beautiful view of Lyon and the Saône.

La Fresque des Lyonnais in Lyon

La Joc’onde by Big Ben

Nearby, another work by Big Ben offers a contemporary reinterpretation of one of the world’s most famous paintings.

This playful version of the Mona Lisa illustrates how street art in Lyon constantly reinvents cultural references while engaging with the city’s artistic heritage.

La Joc’onde de Big Ben à Lyon

La Bibliothèque de la Cité

Another essential stop is La Bibliothèque de la Cité.

This remarkable trompe-l’oeil fresco transforms an entire building into a giant library. Hundreds of painted books celebrate Lyon’s literary and intellectual heritage.

Among the many murals of Lyon, this is perhaps one of the most impressive examples of architectural illusion and narrative mural art.

Cour des Loges Fresco

The walk concludes in Old Lyon with the Cour des Loges fresco.

Integrated into the Renaissance architecture of this historic neighborhood of Lyon, the mural continues the city’s tradition of visual illusion and trompe l’oeil murals. Visitors entering the courtyard can appreciate how seamlessly the painted architecture blends with the surrounding historic buildings.

To end the day, a stop at Nardone offers some of the finest sorbets in Old Lyon.

The Fresque de Gerland

While Croix-Rousse tells the story of silk workers and textile heritage, the district of Gerland offers a more contemporary vision of Lyon murals.

Created by CitéCréation, the Fresque de Gerland celebrates the identity of a neighborhood that has evolved from an industrial district into one of the most dynamic areas of Lyon. Through scenes of daily life and references to local history, this large-scale fresco demonstrates how public art can accompany urban transformation while preserving collective memory.

The area also provides another perspective on the city of Lyon, where former industrial sites now coexist with cultural venues and modern urban developments.

Musée Urbain Tony Garnier and the Quartier des Etats-Unis

For an even broader exploration of famous Lyon murals, visitors should head to the Quartier des Etats-Unis in the 8th arrondissement.

Here, the Musée Urbain Tony Garnier transforms an entire residential district into an open-air museum. Inspired by the visionary ideas of architect Tony Garnier, more than twenty monumental frescoes decorate the facades along Boulevard des Etats-Unis and the surrounding streets.

These amazing murals celebrate architecture, urban planning and cultural diversity while showcasing the work of mural painters from around the world. Some observers have compared the scale and social ambition of the project to the mural tradition of Diego Rivera.

Nearby, the Fresque Végétale Lumière pays tribute to the Lumière Brothers, pioneers of cinema and among the most celebrated figures in Lyon’s history.

Practical Information for Discovering Murals in Lyon

Many visitors use the Lyon City Card to explore museums, public transportation and cultural attractions throughout the city. Combined with a walking tour of the best Lyon murals, it offers an excellent way to discover the city’s rich artistic heritage.

From the Mur des Canuts and the Fresque des Lyonnais to the Musée Urbain Tony Garnier, Lyon offers one of Europe’s richest collections of murals. Whether you are interested in street art, silk heritage or architecture, these painted walls provide a unique way to discover the city.

L’article The Best Murals in Lyon: A Guide to the City’s Painted Walls est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

For more than seven centuries, Lyon has maintained a unique relationship with silk. From the earliest weaving workshops to the great maisons that continue this exceptional craftsmanship today, silk weaving remains one of the city’s most emblematic heritage assets. This prestigious history attracts visitors from all over the world every year, eager to discover the legacy of the canuts and the excellence of Lyon’s textile tradition.

But in a market where authenticity has become a major challenge, how can consumers identify the true actors who actually manufacture locally?

A Label Guaranteeing Origin and Know-How

Created by the City of Lyon, the “Fabriqué à Lyon” label was designed to highlight companies that genuinely design and manufacture their products within the Lyon metropolitan area. It serves as a valuable reference point for consumers seeking transparency and authenticity.

Beyond a simple distinction, this label provides a guarantee: that the product purchased is the result of local expertise, carried by companies that actively contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the Lyon metropolis.

In a context where notions of origin, traceability, and local production are increasingly important, the label helps establish a long-lasting relationship of trust between companies and their customers.

Preserving Consumer Trust

The attractiveness of Lyon silk represents a major opportunity for industry professionals, but it can also lead to certain abuses.

Recently, a case once again highlighted the importance of transparency regarding the true origin of marketed products. When a business claims a heritage or Lyon-based manufacturing without being able to substantiate it, not only is the consumer potentially misled, but the entire industry risks having its reputation weakened.

In this sector, confusion can sometimes arise between silk houses—such as Brochier Soieries, Bianchini-Férier, Manufacture Prelle, Tassinari & Chatel, Tissages Perrin, Sfate & Combier, Guigou, Denis & Fils, Soieries Chambutaires, Soieries Cheval, Bouton Renaud, Benaud Créations, Dutel, Bélinac, or Julien Faure—which design and produce their fabrics within a genuine textile manufacturing logic, and other actors whose activity is limited to resale while still using the codes and vocabulary of Lyon silk production.

Trust is a precious asset. It is built on sincerity of practice and on the ability of companies to demonstrate the authenticity of their craftsmanship. The “Fabriqué à Lyon” label directly supports this requirement for clarity.

Preserving More Than 700 Years of History

Silk is an integral part of Lyon’s identity. It has shaped the city’s urban development, economy, culture, and international influence.

Every actor who continues this tradition today carries a particular responsibility: to transmit a heritage that goes far beyond commercial activity. When misleading practices blur public understanding, an entire shared history risks being diminished.

Preserving the image of Lyon silk means protecting a heritage built over centuries by generations of artisans, designers, weavers, and entrepreneurs.

Brochier Soieries, Committed Since the Creation of the Label

Brochier Soieries is among the companies committed to promoting Lyon’s craftsmanship heritage from the very beginning.

Labelled since the creation of the “Fabriqué à Lyon” scheme, the house reaffirms its commitment to demanding local production and to preserving the trades that made Lyon silk famous. The Lyon Tourist Office confirms that the Maison has been labelled since the launch of the scheme in 2022.

This official recognition confirms a long-standing commitment: to design and produce textile creations rooted in the great tradition of Lyon silk manufacturers, while meeting contemporary expectations of quality, traceability, and authenticity.

A Shared Commitment Among Leading Lyon Houses

Brochier Soieries is not alone in defending this vision. Other iconic Lyon houses, such as chocolate maker Voisin, have also chosen to engage from the earliest editions of the label in order to promote their respective craftsmanship.

This collective commitment reflects a shared ambition: to showcase authentic Lyon-made production and provide consumers with reliable reference points in their choices.

Choosing Authenticity

Purchasing a product certified with the “Fabriqué à Lyon” label is far more than a simple buying decision. It means supporting companies that preserve local craftsmanship, sustaining excellence-based trades, and contributing to the transmission of a unique heritage.

For Brochier Soieries, this distinction represents both recognition and responsibility: to continue upholding the excellence of Lyon silk with the same level of rigor that has defined the house since its creation in 1890.

In a world where product origin is sometimes difficult to identify, the “Fabriqué à Lyon” label provides a clear benchmark. A guarantee of authenticity serving consumer trust and the preservation of a heritage that has made Lyon proud for more than 700 years.

L’article “Fabriqué à Lyon” Label: A Guarantee of Authenticity Serving Lyon’s Heritage est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

Player Jule Brand presenting the new 2026 kit © Moïse Luzolo pour Green Garden

A collaboration between sport and Lyon’s textile heritage

On the occasion of the launch of the new Olympique Lyonnais kits created with adidas, the theme “For the Canuts” embeds the 2026–2027 collection within Lyon’s rich textile history. It pays tribute to the Canuts, silk artisans and workers whose craftsmanship, gestures, and collective culture continue to shape the city’s identity.

To fully embody this theme, adidas and OL naturally turned to two historic and emblematic Lyon silk houses: Maison Brochier Soieries, for its expertise in silk printing, and Manufacture Prelle, renowned for its weaving craftsmanship.

The Canuts at the heart of the collection’s inspiration

The creation of a silk scarf to accompany the players’ kits then took shape. It extends the graphic universe developed for the club’s new jerseys while reinforcing the heritage dimension of the project, adding a touch of “Lyon-style” elegance.

Maison Brochier Soieries has thus launched the production of a collection of two silk scarves dedicated to each team: OL Lyonnes, featuring its new logo, and the men’s team of Olympique Lyonnais, featuring its historic emblem.

Brochier Soieries and Olympique Lyonnais: a family story

This project resonates deeply with Gérard Genet, director of the Maison’s printing workshops. For three generations, the Genet family has maintained a close link with Olympique Lyonnais.

It all began in 1951 with Lucien Genet, one of the pioneers of the club’s history, an OL striker for four seasons and the first Lyon player to score a quadruple under the club’s colours. Forced to end his playing career prematurely due to injury, he then joined the family silk house, which he later passed on to his son Gérard.

His other son, Guy Genet, continued the journey with OL as a defender between 1976 and 1980, before becoming one of the club’s historic kit managers. The family story then continued with Alexis, Guy’s son and Lucien’s grandson, trained at OL and later becoming a professional player within the Lyon squad.

Lucien Genet licence at OL football club

A limited edition celebrating the meeting of two worlds

Printed in a limited series for non-commercial distribution, the scarves were unveiled in preview on social media, worn by player Jule Brand, symbolising the encounter between Lyon’s textile heritage and a new generation of football.

L’article Brochier Soieries x adidas: Lyon silk and OL at the heart of the Canuts heritage est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

Artist Vincent Girard in his atelier

BS1 Gallery: a new venue dedicated to contemporary art in Lyon

On June 11, 2026, Maison Brochier Soieries inaugurates the BS1 Gallery, a new space dedicated to artistic creation located in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement. Conceived as a continuation of the artistic collaborations developed by the Maison since 1953, this venue is part of a long-standing history in which the Maison engages in dialogue with contemporary art. On this occasion, the gallery presents the luminous works of Lyon-based artist Vincent Girard, a “weaver of light” followed by the Maison for more than twenty years.

Vincent Girard and Maison Brochier Soieries: a lasting artistic encounter

Cédric Brochier remembers his first meeting with Vincent Girard in the late 1990s. A discovery that did not immediately appear self-evident. Yet the encounter quickly went beyond the object itself. It was above all the person who left an impression:
“I mostly met someone very kind. Then, as I revisited his work, I began to find it interesting. Little by little, I grew accustomed to his universe.”

Gradually, a relationship developed. First through the acquisition of artworks, then through closer collaboration with the Maison’s printing workshops.

Exhibitions between silk workshops and Lyon’s heritage venues

In the 2000s, several exhibitions by Vincent Girard were held directly within the Maison’s workshops. One of them took on a particular form: it was conceived simultaneously in the workshop and at the Tour Rose in Lyon, then directed by Philippe Chavent, himself from a family of silk makers. The hotel rooms were designed by various Lyon silk houses and named after them, including Brochier Soieries and Brochier S.A., creating a unique link between hospitality and textile heritage.

Where light meets silk in the workshop

In these exhibitions, the artist’s lamps were placed on the printing tables, in direct contact with scarves and materials:
“The combination of his light and the silks created something almost magical.”

The workshop then became an exceptional space for experimentation, transformed for the duration of the exhibitions. Installations extended throughout the site, including the courtyard, where monumental works were displayed, such as over-two-meter-tall glass cypress sculptures.

An artistic relationship that has become almost familial

These experiences paved the way for a series of successive exhibitions, held every two to three years over more than a decade. The relationship between the Maison and the artist gradually went beyond a professional framework to become a close, almost familial bond:
“This relationship has, over time, become almost familial. Even though there was no textile creation in the strict sense, there was a real continuity.”

With the opening of the BS1 Gallery, Maison Brochier Soieries extends the singular story of encounters between artists and craftsmanship.

Practical information

BS1 Gallery
1 rue Jangot
Lyon 7

Visits by appointment only
Contact: Maison@brochiersoieries.com

L’article BS1 Gallery: a new space for creation in Lyon est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.

The Maison’s printers have reinterpreted this artwork in a palette inspired by the tournament: sky blue, the bright yellow of tennis balls, and the ochre tones of clay courts. Each scarf is hand-printed on silk twill using the traditional Lyonnaise screen-printing technique.

This edition is available exclusively in boutiques, with only a limited number of pieces produced in each colour.

→ Find a boutique

L’article Raoul Dufy’s Tennis silk scarf reinvented in new colours for the Paris tennis season est apparu en premier sur Brochier Soieries.