The official Marcel is, of course, 100% made in France
How many t-shirts, sweatshirts, or tank tops have we seen on the street prominently displaying the names of cities or American universities, if not those of basketball or football teams from the same country?
Why this advertising for New York or San Francisco, for Stanford, Harvard, or Berkeley, for the Lakers or the Chicago Bulls… Do those who proudly wear these names all have unforgettable memories of these cities or campuses? Were they passionate supporters of these clubs for years? Probably not. Are these clothes particularly original? Certainly not. Are they at least pretty? Not really…
Roanne vs Malibu
Anyone strutting around in a t-shirt featuring the names of Lille, La Rochelle, or Limoges would at best pass for a person from Lille, Rennes, or La Rochelle, and at worst for a joker. However, if that same t-shirt featured Malibu... Why? Mystery… And what about a tank top printed with the name of a modest provincial town, not even a tourist destination, and the number of the department where it is located?
Well!, that’s precisely what Les Tricots Marcel have done, and it’s not lacking in style. The little French brand is indeed selling a collection of tank tops in homage to Roanne, once one of the capitals of French textiles, and its department, the Loire. And, in this case, it makes sense since the famous "marcel" was born in Roanne and it is in this small industrial town in the Loire that the Tricots Marcel are still made. It has a lot more significance than a "Massachusetts" sweatshirt produced in Bangladesh and bought in Paris or Marseille.
The real marcel, made in the Loire
For its new 100% local product, named “Marcel officiel, the ambassador of Roanne”, Les Tricots Marcel have, as usual, focused on proximity. All manufacturing operations take place within a 5-kilometer radius around Roanne. Of course, except for the cultivation of the textile fiber from which it is made… It consists of Pima cotton, particularly soft and silky and grown without pesticides or other toxic products. The official marcel comes in four colors — white, heather grey, navy blue, and red — and suits both men and women, whether worn loose or fitted. Everyone has their own taste and body shape.
And to prove, if needed, that the official Marcel is not just any tank top, the date of its manufacture and the name of the person who made it are featured on its label. Les Tricots Marcel are not the first to take this initiative, but it helps to rehumanize commerce and the textile industry.
