Textile Industry

Did you know that, in the 19th century, Roanne was a major industrial town that was almost as important as Lyon? In fact, Roanne was also renowned for its textile industry, especially when the Canuts crisis broke out in Lyon. During this period, Lyon’s major weavers needed skilled workers from Roanne, who proved to be very efficient. The town was therefore developed to increase this activity. It was at this time that the famous Vichy fabric appeared, with its white and coloured squares that were to become a dazzling success throughout the country. Brigitte Bardot wore this fabric at her wedding to Jacques Charrier in 1959! In a nutshell, Roanne became famous thanks to this fabric, which was massively produced even though it didn’t originate from Roanne. The town also became famous thanks to the hosiery, steel and paper industries. It should be noted that this is where the Marcel tank tops came from… They’re pretty famous in France! All this to say that this industrial town has a proven track record! It grew from 8,500 inhabitants in 1821 to over 30,000 in 1891! That’s why you can still see many old industrial premises, chimneys and beautiful mansions.