THE HOUSE

OUR HISTORY

• 1890

  With the silk industry in a state of rapid expansion, Jean Brochier established the silk house J. Brochier in 1890. He was well versed in all the skills necessary for the production of silks: creating the fabric collections, financing the purchase of silk, and getting the silk threads thrown, dyed and degummed.

• 1930

  Joseph Brochier, Jean's only son, took over the family business and developed it, steering it towards what were termed "haute nouveauté" [high innovation] fabrics. He went on to supply silk to leading fashion designers such as Jean Patou, Jeanne Lanvin and Gabrielle Chanel. Before long, the Brochier collections were exported internationally, and offices were opened in London, New York, Sydney and Melbourne.

• 1953

  A keen art collector himself, Joseph became friends with the art dealer Aimé Maeght. The two men began a collaboration that continues to this day. From 1953, Miró, Braque, Giacometti and Chagall were invited into the Brochier workshops to produce limited series of silk squares printed "à la lyonnaise".

• 1968

  In 1968, Joseph handed the silk house reins to his son Jacques, who was later joined by his brother Robert. Jacques developed new fabrics for Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Geoffrey Beene, and Dior and worked with artists such as Cortot, Ting and Alechinsky.

• 1986

  In 1986, Jacques's son Cédric started producing new collections of silk squares with artists Daniel Buren, Yan Pei Ming, Yayoi Kusama, Combas, and Jeff Koons, which he supplied to museums around the world.