Some materials endure through the centuries without ever losing their power to fascinate.
Silk is one of them.
So is gold.
For 130 years, Brochier Soieries has woven gold and silver threads. One might imagine this expertise to belong solely to the realm of heritage, haute couture dresses or the creations of the great 20th-century couturiers. Yet it continues to inspire contemporary artists and designers today.
Sometimes, almost naturally.
Thomas Henriot: giving gold thread a contemporary expression
When Thomas Henriot set out to translate his drawings of Indian palaces into textiles, the idea of using gold thread seemed an obvious choice. More than a colour, it evokes light, architecture, the memory of places and the stories they carry.
The monumental works born from this collaboration do not look to the past; 
they give gold thread a decidedly contemporary expression.
Rick Owens: a material that evolves over time
A few months later, another encounter confirmed this intuition.
Invited to discover a selection of the house’s fabrics, Rick Owens was instinctively drawn to the lamés. Beyond their shimmer, it was perhaps the very life of the material that captured his interest. Metallic threads reflect the light, but they also evolve over time. They develop a patina, oxidise and subtly change in appearance. Like wood, leather or bronze, they bear the traces of time.
This sense of temporality fascinates many artists.
A work of art is not always intended to remain unchanged. Some materials continue to live after their creation. They age, transform and enter into a dialogue with light and the passing years. Gold and silver threads belong to this family of living materials.
A heritage that continues to inspire creation
This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why they continue to inspire today’s creators.
Techniques evolve. Uses change. Silhouettes are transformed. Yet certain materials retain their evocative power. They offer artists a language that each generation reinvents in its own way.
The exhibition Brochier Soieries, 130 Years of Silk, Gold and Silver tells the story of this continuity. It shows that heritage is not simply a memory to be preserved. It is also a source of inspiration for the creations of today and tomorrow.
Julie Dodet, Exhibition Curator
BROCHIER SOIERIES, 130 YEARS OF SILK, GOLD AND SILVER
Exhibition from October 1, 2026
Musée Soieries Brochier
18 quai Jules Courmont, 69002 Lyon
