The prestigious Le Crin brand name is heir to the outstanding traditional savoir-faire in horsehair weaving. The workshop in the small village of Challes, in the county of Sarthe, is today the only one in the world to do this highly intricate and painstaking work by hand and has done so for two centuries.

Horsehair is a living, shimmering fibre that gives fabrics incomparable sensuality, nuance and solidity. Le Crin plays on this alliance of strength and lightness that creates classic and contemporary collections which are anchored in modern times. These fabrics become sheer curtains, seats and wall coverings, depending upon the inspiration and aesthetics of the user. This well-bred material stem from the mane and ponytail of horses that hail from the great plains of Mongolia. The precious plumes of horse hair are sorted and combed, before being put, hair by hair, on a 19th-century Jacquard loom: authentic, delicate actions, which produce fabrics of outstanding quality at a speed of three metres of fabric per loom per day.

Linen, wool and sisal, metallic thread or printed patterns are mixed with the horse hair to create new effects of touch, colour or light. Nuances of blue, red and mauve are introduced along with natural dyes, in widths of up to 140cm for sheer curtains. This creativity and outstanding savoir-faire were rewarded in 2007 by the attribution of the ‘Living Heritage Company’ label.