At the heart of the Lyon Silk market: Stakes and challenges of international prospects

Résumé du document

Our initiative cleary describe the historic interweavings between our city of Lyon and the international market of the silk. The story of the silk begins dates back to the Chinese tradition in XVIIth century BC and continues with three millenniums of exclusivity in the course of which China traded this precious tissue without passing on the secret. The art to make silk was then gradually passed on to other civilizations owing to spies, (monks, princesses) looters and traders. In Europe, silk was for a long time a monopoly of the Roman Empire in the East. Arrived in Western Europe at the end of the Middle Ages, the silk production reached the stage of the industrialization from XIXth century but experienced a grave decline connected to the competition of modern fibers (like the nylon), to the evolution of the clothing customs in Europe, to the development of certain Asian countries and to the epidemics which touch it in France in this period.

Extraits

[...] In 1660, they are more than bosses of work who make work professions. The activity is multiplied by 3 between 1665 and 1690. It is also necessary to note that during XVII ème century the printing in the board (said "Indians") is introduced and established in France. Nevertheless, in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes ( 1685 very numerous silk manufacturers of Protestant confession exile themselves and take refuge in particular with Switzerland (in Zurich) and in London (district of Spitalfields). [...]

[...] The employer judges that the good economic situation made increase in a excessive way the salaries of the workers and claims to impose them a decline. A conflict, strikes results from it, the leaders of which are arrested and sued. Their lawsuit begins April 5th, as the Chamber of the peers discusses a law intended to harden the repression against the republican associations. The republicans succeed in creating a mixture between the political associations, which are really aimed by this text, and the labor mutual associations to which the silk workers of Lyons are much attached. [...]

[...] The Asian countries, in particular Japan, India and Thailand, also represented important consumers. Japan was the biggest world consumer. No limitations. No quota system hindered the business of the silk. Promotion of the export. In Europe, some activities for the promotion of the silk were operated by the European Commission for the promotion of the silk. b. Issues asked to French and Lyon firms : how to develop their activities ? In the second quarter companies saw their sales falling for the second consecutive. [...]

[...] We attend then the birth of an industrial district and especially a specific professional category: the "silk workers". In 1831, the production of Lyons of silk trade's remains organized according to a model of preindustrial type: At the top of the pyramid, we find the factory consisted of about trader's bankers called "manufacturers" or silk manufacturer", who command (order) and finance the manufacturing of pieces and insure the marketing with the customers. The manufacturers make, some bosses craftsmen work weavers, the "silk workers", who work with order and on the piece). [...]

[...] The dismantling of the centres of production. The producing centres put the key under the door. This tendency is evident in Japan and in the Republic of Korea, consequence of the industrialization of these two nations. And millions of families living in the rural zones of China, Thailand, and Brazil and moreover are placed in front of the alternative of knowledge if they continue or not their production séricicole. If the farmers turn away from this activity for the benefit of a more lucrative production, the industry risks not being able to recover from it. [...]