Valorisation Patrimoine Sud Tarn
Panel 14
The Industrial Revolution
Between 1785 and 1850, Mazamet established a complete textile industry, developing all finishing processes. Salesmen traveled across France. Industries centralized in factories. Mazamet became a recognized textile hub with increasing wool demands.
The Odyssey of Fellmongery
Starting from 1851, two innovations revolutionized the system. A commercial innovation: purchasing sheepskins from Southern Hemisphere countries. An industrial innovation: the fellmongering using the “Sweating process”, ensuring full fleece recovery without compromising wool quality. Numerous fellmongering factories solidified Mazamet's pivotal role in wool trading. Proximity to clients in an industrialized Europe was a crucial advantage.
Today
Direct competition from China and the loss of local clients have made fellmongering Australian sheepskins economically unviable in Mazamet. Yet, other activities continue, related to textile fibers and leather, as well as diversified industries deeply rooted in the local fabric.