This is Charente, Charente-Maritime, Vienne but especially in the department of Deux-Sèvres that, at the end of the 19thrd century there are numerous skin processing factories due to the industrialization of the activity. But it is mainly to Niort that the activity developed thus making its reputation and this, with Boinot chamois and gloves.
Chamois making, tannery, glove making, quesaco?
Chamoising is an artisanal technique consisting of manufacturing very soft leather and especially High quality particularly used in the field of glovemaking (glove manufacturing). The place where this specific type of activity is practiced is a chamoiserie.
In the past, leather was made from chamois skins. The chamois is a species of mammals of the family Bovidae and the subfamily Caprinea. The skins were treated with fish oil, which made it an expensive and above all rare product!
All first French chamois products were created in Niort and Poitiers under the reign of Francis 1er.
A significant number of artisanal tanneries existed in the region at the time. Strategically, in each town with a river who crosses it, there we could find a district dedicated to tanneries.
Niort chamois
During the Middle Ages, Niort specialized in chamois. Conclusion for sustainable important was allowed thanks to the proximity of the Sèvre Niortaise and its characteristics: quality of its water, sufficient flow to drive the mills and of course, its seaworthiness thus facilitating transport of goods like fish oil, an essential element in manufacturing.
In 1534, Jacques Cartier will discover Canada what will promote the activity and reputation of Niort for its chamois. The skins and its derived accessories will then sell throughout France as well as abroad from ports of La Rochelle and Nantes. A drop in imports Canadian forces will be felt from 1689 because of the Franco-English confrontation.
End of 18rd century Thomas Jean Main, an industrialist from Niort, will give a new, more modern breath on the activity by establishing new processes that he was able to observe in other countries such as England.
It's at 19rd century that Niort chamois are really turning to glove making. The years go by and mechanization arrived in factories in the 1860s/1870s.
Chamois under the Boinot family
In 1900 years Théophile Boinot, wool merchant, acquired 2 chamois making companies in Niort. With his 2 sons, Louis and Charles, it will considerably develop “The Boinot factories”. In 1930, the glove industry reached a production of 210 dozen gloves, which represented 000% of French manufacturing at the time.
Sadly, the global crisis of 1929 will hit industry hard who, at that time, exported 55% of its products especially in Germany and Czechoslovakia. Which was no longer the case after this tragic episode.
The industry has gone through the 2rd world War proposing several diverse and varied manufactures but it's really in the 1960s/1970s that activity will restart.
The Boinot factories were then a real Niort institution. They employed 3 people divided between manufacturing workshops and those at home, a position mainly occupied by women for the glove making sector.
Unfortunately, time passed and production was affected by strong foreign competition, at the same time where society was evolving and modernizing thus making the chamois, and in particular gloves, a less used clothing accessory.
To know more :
Meet at Port Boinot, on the 1st floor of the Dryer to discover space “Épona – Secrets of our heritage”. You will discover the history of the Niort – Marais Poitevin Destination including that of the Niort chamois which represents a significant episode in the evolution of the territory.
