By Anne-Emmanuelle LAMBERT.
It is from a former stud farm, in Saint-Ouen-sur-Iton, near L'Aigle, in Orne, that the last French manufacturer of sequins supplies embroiderers around the world and the biggest luxury houses. The two managers and their three employees of the Langlois-Martin company perpetuate know-how dating from the end of the 19th century.e century.
We often brag about being the first. First in class, first violin, first to arrive… The Langlois-Martin company prides itself on its status as last. Latest French manufacturer of glitter. Last to work with cellulose. Last to make his own colors. All this, in Normandy, a few kilometers from another last one: the Bohin factory, the last French needle manufacturer.
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The Langlois-Martin company was founded in 1919, but its know-how dates back to the rise of the first sequin factories at the end of the 19th century.e century. “They all redeemed each other, little by little,” says Jean-Baptiste Drachkovitch, the current co-manager.
There were 70 factories at the beginning of the 20th centurye century. There were only three left in the 1970s. Then a last one, Langlois-Martin. A family business. “There were three generations of Langlois before us,” traces Jean-Baptiste Drachkovitch. With his husband Pascal Bernard, he bought the company in 2010.
Jean-Baptiste Drachkovitch was then an embroiderer. “I was already working with Langlois-Martin glitter. » In 2018, the couple left the Paris region to set up the business in a former stud farm in Saint-Ouen-sur-Iton, near L'Aigle, in Orne. “It took 25 trucks of 15 and 19 tonnes to bring all of this! »
A unique collection in the world
All this is the machines, of course, but also a unique collection of cutting tools, these molds which are used to give their shape to the glitter. “We have basic shapes and fancy molds: leaves, wings, feathers… There’s everything! The few foreign competitors who have cutting tools have 300 or 400. We have 5,000.”
This great diversity is the hallmark of the Langlois-Martin company. Which means that it is recognized throughout the world. “We supply the great embroiderers who work with luxury houses. » Chanel, Dior, Vuitton… Glitter made in Orne can be found on the most prestigious catwalks and in luxury stores.
But the latest sequin manufacturer also attracts small embroiderers all over the world. “They come looking for a quality product that you can’t find elsewhere. »
25 million possible models
The other strength of the Langlois-Martin company is color. “We have over 1,600.” They are obtained from varnish, spread on large plates of cellulose. It should be noted in passing that cellulose is a plastic, of course, but obtained from wood fiber, and not petroleum. “We were green before our time,” smile the co-managers.
If we multiply the number of molds by the number of colors offered, we obtain 25 million possible items. Enough to stay last for a while!
