Background
In 1974, four previously established lace manufacturers decided to join forces by uniting their activities within a sole company, which was named Solstiss. The aim was to join their savoir-faire, increase their activity, maintain a tradition, and provide the means for larger and more efficient production. This is Maison Ledieu Beauvillain, specialised in twelve-stitch lace, Victor Machu and AEG Joël Machu, well known for their vast range of colours, and Robert Belot, renowned for their Chantilly lace and Maison Edouard Beauvillain (Edouard Beauvillain and Henri Beauvillain), well-known for the diversity and wealth of their lace patterns.
Lace was at that stage undergoing a crisis due significant social changes taking place at that time. Bras were being discarded, the Vatican no longer required the use of a mantilla for attending mass, and miniskirts were openly showing off bodies which revealed the best kept secrets of lace. This serious crisis was the occasion for Solstiss to show that it could quickly adapt in an exemplary fashion. The self-sacrifice of the personnel who were conscious of the future of their company, as well as the close cooperation with the Labour Inspectorate, allowed for the implementation of intelligent solutions to ensure the future of the company.
This extreme will to preserve a craft which had proven itself, by modernising it and investing in human resources even more so than financial, saved Solstiss and saw the company resuscitate itself, while other companies saw no other option but to leave their wonderful lace trade behind.
after the presentation by the President of Solstiss, Mr. Joël Machu, of the risks for the future of the company in the event of the application of the 35 hour-working week, the personnel decided unanimously to not take advantage of this new French law, thus saving their company again for a second time from the decline the company would have undoubtedly seen in its competitiveness and turnover if said law had been implemented.
In 1981
Solstiss opened a showroom in Paris so as to be closer to its creators and offer them a custom-crafted service, both through availability of articles and the wide range of colours available.
In 1985
Solstiss arrives in New York and the showroom of its subsidiary, Solstiss Inc, opened on the corner of 7th Avenue and Fashion Street, in the heart of the fashion district of New York.
A few years later, another showroom was opened in Los Angeles, followed by the opening of an office in Miami.
In 2001
after the presentation by the President of Solstiss, Mr. Joël Machu, of the risks for the future of the company in the event of the application of the 35 hour-working week, the personnel decided unanimously to not take advantage of this new French law, thus saving their company again for a second time from the decline the company would have undoubtedly seen in its competitiveness and turnover if said law had been implemented.
In 2002
turnover at Solstiss multiplied by twenty in comparison to 1974, and Solstiss created its first major event, the« Corps de Dentelles » exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre.
2003
saw the « Détournement de Dentelles » exhibition at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.
In 2004
Solstiss takes on a new legal and financial structure, which corresponds with its needs, in an aim to optimise the operation of certain structures of a more modest size.The objective was to form a more important financial entity and which is more conducive to investments, both with regard to industrial tools and well as in the capacity of creation and training of specialists. The aim is to make this French savoir-faire, today unique in the world, durable and to ensure the means to constantly innovate were available.
2005
saw constant and continue growth in its turnover. Solstiss now has all the big fashion designers from all around the globe as clients, wheter they are French, English, Italian, Japanese or American, or even from Lebanon, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Spain or further afield, and its name now evokes an image of women in lace.
In 2006
Solstiss has and used no less than one hundred and ten Leavers lines of work for manufacturing its high quality top of the range lace products in its workshops, which makes it one of the top houses in this speciality in the world.
The managers of Solstiss receive the award for the entrepreneur of the year
for the region.
2006 also saw the implementation of the Solstiss/Baccarat partnership.