The bet was as daring as it was expected and hoped for. Produce a book on footwear in Mauges and Choletais (Maine-et-Loire), integrating all aspects from the glorious past to the more confidential future. It’s done. A print run of 2,500 copies which, as Christmas approaches, is a great gift idea. Will it be enough?
A steering committee led this extraordinary editorial adventure, made up of Bertrand Boquien, Sandy Antelme, Claire Baubry, Olivier Gabory, Gilbert Hulin and Gilles Leroy. And around sixty contributors participated in the work The Shoe: History – Territory – Futurecompleted in just nine months.
This is the fourth book in the so-called Mauges collection published by the Unité des Éditions ICI workshops in Beaupréau. Its purpose is to publish works of local interest, and to concretize the efforts of individuals around local cultural heritage.
“Unique social model”
In nearly 350 pages, it brings together around a hundred often poignant testimonies from employees, entrepreneurs and various professions linked to shoes. As a tribute to the 20,000 people who, here, devoted their active lives to him. The first part is meticulous archival research carried out by historian Bertrand Boquien.
Giving pride of place to the words of each and every person, this book does not forget any aspect of this single industry which made Les Mauges the French capital of shoes during the Trente Glorieuses, from 1945 to 1975. “We are showing a unique social model in France based on entrepreneurship. And we don’t forget the a terrible year with the closures”, underlines Gilles Leroy, one of the editors. Today, the Mauges shoe has retained some flagships. This is the subject of the third and final part.
“Sociological marking”
After decades of existence, this industry has taken on such importance in people’s minds that it has contributed, according to the authors, to shaping a sociological marking such as male/female relationships, a culture of consensus by integrating the values of the collective imbued with social Catholicism
notes Didier Huchon, president of the Mauges Communauté agglomeration.
In short, this beautiful work should leave its mark, awakening memories and reminding younger generations of what shoes were in the Mauges, as a symbol between know-how and know-how.
The Shoe: History – Territory – Future, 334 pages, €39, on sale in bookstores such as La Parenthese, in Beaupréau.
