Our manufacturing processes

OUR MANUFACTURING LINE

A loop, in a loop, in a loop... Bonneterie d'Armor has always specialized in the manufacture of knitted clothing, including its iconic sailor's top.

THE MESH

Knitting is the technique used to make a fabric by linking stitches together. These loops intertwine with each other to create a solid and stretchy structure. The characteristics of a knit depend on the yarn used (composition, weight, twist, etc.) in addition to the type of
stitch used (jersey, interlock, etc.).

Armor-lux has nearly 100 circular and rectilinear knitting machines operated by 50 people. These
employees have the enormous responsibility of knitting and providing distinction to the fabrics used in the Breton tops we offer. They also knit all underwear, jumpers, T-shirts, polo shirts, knit dresses and nightwear.

Plain knits are cut automatically, while striped knits are cut by hand to avoid any striping mismatch during assembly. This is also one of the often overlooked areas of expertise that we maintain in Quimper, recognised by the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label. The garments are then assembled in our workshop by cutting, sewing and finishing, thanks to our 100 operators possessing exceptional dexterity and speed of execution.

We have always worked to improve our employees' skills in these positions,thus preserving our company's long-standing expertise. These days, however, it's extremely difficult to find qualified people (due to the disappearance of courses with a diploma at the end and the unglamorous
image of these jobs, etc.) for a profession that now approaches a craft.

THE WARP AND WEFT

Warp and weft: specialised expertise which requires the forging of relationships with other manufacturers

We operate through two types of channels. Each of them begins after the design of the garment by the 25 employees in our design office and prototyping workshop (style design, model making, print creation, etc.). The first channel consists of purchasing fabric from French or European partners and then entrusting the assembly to our factory in Quimper or
subcontractors located in France and in the Euro-Mediterranean zone (Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey). The second channel consists of purchasing a finished product, designed by us in Quimper, from an integrated partner who is in control of all the operations from weaving
to manufacturing. These partners are also located in France and the Euro-Mediterranean zone.

Warp and weft are threads that, instead of forming loops, cross over each other. The result is no longer knitting, but weaving. So we're talking about a fabric; not a knit. We don't possess this technique of weaving. It's an expertise in its own right and is very different from that of knitting. As part of the development of our collections, we have chosen to offer you a well-rounded wardrobe that's not limited to just knitwear. This is why we have structured specific production channels for items like trousers, shirts, jackets and all other warp and weft-based garments.

TECHNICAL PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES

Some wardrobe pieces are neither knitwear nor woven fabrics. These are mainly technical garments such as oilskin jackets, parkas, down jackets, and certain accessories.

After the design stage in Quimper, these items are then entirely produced by carefully selected suppliers, chosen for their expertise as well as their ethical and environmental commitments. Depending on the type of product, these suppliers are based in Europe or Asia. We work with the most modern factories to offer you high-performance products. The quality of production is strictly controlled by our teams in Quimper to ensure it meets our brand’s quality standards. These factories are also subject to external, independent audits to verify their compliance with international labor standards. To conduct these audits, we rely on independent international firms made up of auditors trained and certified to SA8000, the leading social responsibility standard. Since 2005, we have carried out 800 evaluations worldwide to verify the compliance of production sites with the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

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OUR MANUFACTURING LINE