Balzac Paris. Hello Karine, we are very happy to "tele-meet" you today! We have just unveiled our “100% made in France” collection to our customers! It seemed important to us to tell them the story of the Jean Ruiz knitting factory, we let you speak… What is the story of the Jean Ruiz knitting factory?

Karine Renouil-Tiberghein. Of course you're right, it's always nice to know the story of a garment and its material.

The Jean Ruiz Knitting Factory was created in Roanne more than 40 years ago. At the time, in the small Cotton cul-de-sac there were no less than 4 knitwear factories! It was a thriving industry in the region.

From the start, Jean Ruiz, the founder of the Manufacture, decided to knit for high-end ready-to-wear. He wanted to offer his clients an infinite field of possibilities. For our founder, offering a modern and diversified fleet of knitting looms (from 3 gauge to 14 gauge), as well as a very experienced clothing workshop, was the ne plus ultra of the textile industry at the time.

Balzac Paris. Someone slipped into our ears that you had recently taken over the reins of the Manufacture?

KR-T. Absolutely ! It's been two years today!

At the time, with Arnaud de Belabre, my partner, we were very happy with the adventure we were living within the Layette factory in Pau. We really liked this sector of knitting, it was time for us to learn how to knit for adults, so to jump into the water.

It was then that we decided to meet the management team in Roanne. We had an appointment at the workshop. With Arnaud, we were instantly seduced by the know-how of this “knitting manu”. Our meeting with the team in place was a plus, that's obvious. Their history, their material, their knitting, their family,… are the very essence of this factory that we have decided to take over with great kindness.

Balzac Paris. At Balzac Paris, we have a passion for knitting, in your opinion it is a French know-how to preserve, can you tell us more?

KR-T. Yes, yes and yes and again a thousand times yes!

What a fantastic job it is to create and make a sweater or a hat! Fewer and fewer workshops know how to do it in France, we must participate in making this activity prosper and support French manufacturers. This is essential to preserve our unique know-how.

Of course, products made in France can be more expensive than a hat made in very far away! However, let us remember that if a product 100% made in France is a little more expensive, it is thanks to a social decision taken collectively a very long time ago which allows us to receive a pension at the end of our career. And we can be proud of it even if it comes at a cost. Let's continue to support and support our French manufacturing in our purchases on a daily basis.

Balzac Paris. We approached you to knit our hats and headbands 100% made in France. Why did you agree to accompany us in this collection?

KR-T. The fact that I am a fan of your collections has of course not influenced me at all as you can imagine! More seriously, we wanted to help you create this collection because we defend the same values ​​which are quality and local manufacturing. Your Ever More Responsible commitment is a strong promise in which the Manufacture Jean Ruiz strongly believes. It is thanks to ready-to-wear players like Balzac Paris that we will succeed together in moving the lines! **insert**