Following Covid-19, the Montluçon fabric stores were literally taken by storm. Particularly by individuals who wanted to buy the materials needed to make their protective masks.
Tissue area and Ursula Tissue stormed to find something to make masks
Carole Dugléry, the manager of Espace Tissues in Domérat, first resumed her activity with drives and orders of products necessary to make masks.
Our first customers were professionals, in particular certain mass retailers who ordered masks to protect their employees. Then, it was necessary to supply the communities which equipped their agents, as well as the caregivers and the individuals
Carole dugléry (Manager of Tissue Space)
–
And like her, Sylvie Dousset, the manager of the Tissus des Ursules store, in the Saint-Jacques area, literally found herself “submerged” when she launched her drive on Monday, April 27. “Everyone was calling. There it is full, we feel a slowdown since last weekend. “
No shortage of raw materials
And to access this high demand, it was still necessary to have the necessary material. “Fortunately, I had a good stock of fabric; by luck I was able to have everything I needed. We didn’t have a problem with the elastics either, but for the past week, it has started to be more complicated for the fabrics: the suppliers are themselves in short supply at the national level because everyone requests them so I get a little bit by drop, ”says Sylvie Dousset.
Like her, Carole Dugléry was quickly served by her usual suppliers, and notably weavers from Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Belgium, or even from the north and east of France.
“We had rubber bands right away and then we had a little latency. For the first time, everyone wanted rubber bands all over France but also in Europe and around the world. Some suppliers have played the game and have not increased their prices, “says Carole Dugléry.
All generations have started sewing …
This quest for fabric and elastic to make his mask has touched all generations, who have thereby rediscovered or discovered couture.
“The grandmothers’ machines came out of the attics. Even teens wear their mask to go to college. We sold super nice fabrics. It’s a bit like clothing, everyone asserts themselves with the model that we manage to find in cotton for masks, like those who are passionate about music or drawing for example, “laughs Carole Dugléry.
Cloth masks: easily sew them, handle them, wash them … A short practical guide
… and there have also been huge surges of solidarity
In their store, Sylvie Dousset and Carole Dugléry also witnessed the birth of great stories. Some of their clients came straight to stock up to make a hundred or two hundred masks. “In Creuse, some made it for the whole village. There have been great outbursts of solidarity, ”says Carole Dugléry.
Lots of clients came to make masks for their family and close friends but also for associations, for the hospital … One of our clients made 1,500 cloth masks and she gave them all! It must have been quite a budget for her.
Sylvie Dousset (responsible for Tissues of Ursules)
–
Activities set aside because of the Covid are starting to start again
Like their clients, professionals are starting to move on. At this time of the year, Carole Dugléry and her employee are normally in full custom-made clothing, between awning fabrics, garden furniture…
“Usually we already have orders in February-March for outdoor fabrics, lots of seats, tapestries,” she compares. There, people have not gone out and I think they are waiting a little or some will not do it this year because financially it can be complicated for those who have been on short-time working. Others happily return for double curtains, sheers, bed fabrics. “
Similarly, the owners of mobile homes or guest houses are still waiting since no one can go there. But marriage plans are slowly resuming.
Customers also come back to Les Tissus des Ursules as they go, to redo armchairs, cushions, for tailor-made clothing…
They want something more than masks and a little house change. Even for us, it feels good; sell only elastic and fabric for masks, it was weird!
Sylvie Dousset (responsible for the Tissues of the ursules)
–
“What hurt most was that when I reopened, there were two hours of queuing to enter the store. When you see people like that, waiting outside has a funny effect. Once, ladies were waiting outside in the rain, without an umbrella … We were in another world, “she retains.
We will have to wait to have a sewing machine
One thing is also certain, this quest for fabric to make his mask brought new customers to these two stores. With an average of 150 customers per day, Tissues des Ursules have almost tripled their attendance today.
Several traders draw up a first positive assessment of the reopening of their shop in Montluçon
“Several of the ladies we met started sewing on masks and found it fun. Today, two little ladies came back to my store, one took what it takes to make a top, the other a little dress, “notes Carole Dugléry.
On the other hand, if like many others you hope to acquire a sewing machine in the coming days to get started, you will have to be patient. The two brands have already sold all their stock and hope that their suppliers will replenish them as soon as possible.
Gaëlle Chazal
– .
