HISTORY
Our Story: A Partnership Rooted in Tradition and Expertise
La Maillerie’s journey began in 1991 through a partnership with Replique, a renowned knitwear manufacturer based in Roanne, France. Facing financial difficulties, Replique sought to relocate its savoir-faire and production capabilities to a more cost-effective location. Morocco, with its affordable workforce, cultural proximity, and strategic geographical position—both in terms of trade agreements and logistics—provided the ideal setting, laying the foundation for La Maillerie.
Together, we established a modern factory in Casablanca, where French technicians passed on their decades of expertise to our local team. This collaboration merged the craftsmanship of French knitwear with the efficiency of Moroccan production, positioning La Maillerie as a key player in the textile industry. Over time, this partnership laid the groundwork for La Maillerie’s evolution into a trusted partner for premium brands, blending traditional techniques with modern technology.
From Affordable Fashion to Luxury Clients: A Strategic Shift
In our early years, La Maillerie primarily focused on producing cut & sewn garments for affordable fashion clients such as Decathlon, Monoprix, and La Redoute. However, with the rise of China’s industrial capacity in the early 2000s, it became clear that competing solely on price was unsustainable.
Recognizing this, Taoufik Harouchi, our founder and CEO, made the bold decision to invest in new technologies and shift our focus to high-end craftsmanship and tailor-made services. La Maillerie introduced fully fashioned Shima Seiki flat knitting machines, including the first gauge 12 machines in Morocco. This marked our transition to fully fashioned knitwear manufacturing, allowing us to deliver the highest standards of quality and innovation to premium clients.
By embracing luxury production techniques and technical innovation, La Maillerie became a key collaborator for prestigious fashion brands, co-developing collections that reflect their creative vision.
A Legacy of Long-Term Partnerships
Our success is rooted in long-term partnerships with our clients. For over 25 years, La Maillerie has maintained a weekly export to Armor Lux, a testament to our consistency and commitment to quality. This enduring collaboration reflects our ability to meet high standards, shipment after shipment, while adapting to our clients' evolving needs.
Our 10-year collaboration with Christian Dior elevated our production capabilities and allowed us to reach new heights in the ultra-luxury fashion sphere. Working with Dior refined our standards of precision and quality, establishing La Maillerie as a trusted manufacturer in the industry.
Looking to the Future
As we look ahead, La Maillerie remains committed to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. We are excited to expand into new markets across Europe and the United States, while continuing to nurture the long-term relationships we have cultivated with our clients. Our aim is to remain at the forefront of premium knitwear manufacturing, constantly striving for excellence.
A heartfelt thanks to the clients who have trusted us from the beginning of our entrepreneurial adventure, to our team for their dedication, and to our suppliers for their professionalism and efficiency. Lastly, we honor Robert Poude, founder of Replique, for his trust and visionary leadership in setting us on this path.
Today: A Leader in Premium Knitwear Manufacturing
Today, La Maillerie collaborates with some of the most prestigious brands in the fashion industry. Our production capacity has grown to over 500,000 pieces annually, powered by a park of 90+ advanced flat knitting machines and a dedicated team of over 200 skilled employees.
Our success is driven by strong relationships with top yarn suppliers from Italy, Scotland, and Austria, including Tollegno, Zegna Baruffa, Lanificio dell’Olivo, Filivivi, Schoeller, and Z. Hinchliffe & Sons. These partnerships enable us to source the finest yarns, ensuring that we provide our clients with premium and sustainable knitwear solutions.
