{"id":23,"date":"2016-05-23T13:37:52","date_gmt":"2016-05-23T13:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beauville.com\/en\/?page_id=23"},"modified":"2025-06-17T14:36:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T12:36:40","slug":"mie","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.beauville.com\/en\/mie\/","title":{"rendered":"MIE"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fabric Printing Factory (MIE)<\/strong> is a company specialized in printing textiles for home furnishings. It collaborates with prestigious fabric editors such as Pierre Frey, Ralph Lauren Home, Braqueni\u00e9, Le Manach, and Cowtan & Tout. What sets it apart is that it is the last company still practicing flat-frame printing<\/strong>, a traditional and highly skilled technique. This allows MIE to manage the entire production process in-house<\/strong>, without outsourcing. In other words, MIE controls every stage of creation\u2014from design and frame preparation to final printing\u2014ensuring exceptional quality and authenticity in its products.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Frame Printing Technique<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Until the late 17th century, textile printing was done using carved wooden stencils, commonly referred to as “blocks.” Carving a block required extreme precision and could take several months. This method was replaced in the 1940s by what is known as the “Lyonnaise” or flat-frame technique<\/strong>. MIE adopted this screen-printing tool as early as 1937.<\/p>\n

Unlike block printing, which allows multiple colors on a single plate, flat-frame printing requires a separate screen for each color in the design. It demands exceptional precision and coordination between the printmaster and the table chief<\/strong>. Using a squeegee, both printers apply each color to the fabric in perfectly synchronized movements\u2014one pass for each color in the design. Some patterns contain over 25 individual colors<\/strong>, making this a truly unique expertise.<\/p>\n

The final step, called \u201csteaming,\u201d<\/strong> consists of drying, finishing, and permanently setting the dye into the fibers to ensure exceptional colorfastness and durability.<\/p>\n

Dyes and Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Fabric Printing Factory uses only natural fibers<\/strong>: cotton, linen blend, pure linen, wool, or silk. When raw fabric arrives at the factory, it is not yet suitable for printing. It must undergo several treatments, including:<\/p>\n