Interview with Germain Benoit
We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our collective: Manufacture Royale Bonvallet. Specializing in bespoke fabrics and dyeing techniques, Manufacture Royale Bonvallet enriches our collective with its exceptional French savoir-faire. We recently had a conversation with Germain, director of Manufacture Royale Bonvallet to learn more about this savoir-faire.
Welcome to Par Excellence! We’re thrilled to have Manufacture Royale Bonvallet join us. What motivated you to join our collective of French artisans?
Thank you, we are very honored to become a new member! Through previous collaborations with some of the first funding artisans, we got to know and discover the many talents represented in New York. The commitment to excellence in craftsmanship and the spirit of collaboration were key factors in our decision to become a part of Par Excellence New York.
Can you tell us about the history and heritage of Manufacture Royale Bonvallet?
Manufacture Royale Bonvallet was founded by Jacques-Alexandre Bonvallet in Amiens, France in the XVIIIth Century. It was a golden age for prestigious European textile mills such as ours. Until now, Jacques-Alexandre’s heritage carries on with unrivaled finesse and expertise. Our velvets, fabrics, gaufrages and prints have been dressing palaces to embassies, coutures houses to famous operas, historical landmarks to contemporary showrooms.
With a tradition dating back to 1756, how have you managed to preserve and pass down your expertise through the generations?
Like a movie, it starts with a script: Where is it? What’s the light? Who is there? What’s the story? What’s the object? How can Manufacture Royale Bonvallet bring its value In Situ? Then a mutual creative process can take place from choosing the right texture to bringing the right palette. There are many steps involved. First our laboratory will develop and sample for custom projects, then our artisans will manufacture with their best.
Next, creativity drives our workshop. We approach each new project as an opportunity to push the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship. Our team is constantly innovating, whether through design, the use of new materials, or the integration of more modern techniques.
Last, I would mention our expertise. Our unique expertise, passed down through generations, is the key to our reputation.
Your range of colors is truly impressive. How do you manage to create these customized formulas that define your Manufacture?
Colours have always been the prism where Manufacture Royale Bonvallet excels for many generations. We have an expert eye and deep colour memory. Of course, extensive archives of thousands of formulas are kept in our reserves and every day new colours come out from our laboratory. This is in our culture and family for many generations and a daily focus.
Sharing our expertise also involves refining traditional techniques. By encouraging our artisans to keep developing their skills, we ensure the vitality and relevance of our profession.
In this process, we meticulously documented our methods and creations, maintaining detailed archives of the techniques used.
What emerging trends is Manufacture Royale Bonvallet noticing in the luxury textile industry, and how is your company adjusting to these changes?
In a world of standardization, more and more people prefer to invest in handcrafted fashions, into the environmental and human integrity of limited scale productions and meaningful brands with substance. This is what we believe in and who we are.
How does the collaboration with Par Excellence represent an opportunity for Manufacture Royale Bonvallet, and what goals do you hope to achieve through?
To stay creative, we must cross borders. We’ll do it with Par Excellence.
