In 2025, Maison Montagut celebrates 145 years of artisanal expertise and family passion for knitwear, lovingly crafted for six generations in its workshops.
A specialist in the art of fine knitwear since 1880, Maison Montagut is an independent brand from Ardèche, emblematic of French elegance. Its signature aesthetic is reflected in a refined knitwear wardrobe for men and women, featuring exceptional materials such as cashmere, merino wool, or its famous Fil Lumière®.
BEHIND THIS FAMILY-RUNBUSINESS, 6 GENERATIONSHAVE SUCCEEDED ONE ANOTHER
The brand has spanned nearly a century and a half with a wardrobe rich in history,emotion, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Since the late 1960s, the house has been knitting and crafting its collections made "at home," in its own workshop in Braga, Portugal, where it fosters lasting relationships and instills its family spirit with those who contribute to the creation of its collections. Today, with an eye toward the future, the house draws upon the heritage of a tradition of excellence and a century-old artisanal expertise that continues to refine itself each season.
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Rooted in the Auzène Valley near Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut in the south of France, Adolphe Tinland, a young entrepreneur eager to bring industrial growth to his native Ardèche, established a silk spinning mill powered by the river's driving force.
Adolphe Tinland passed the company down to his son Gaston and then to subsequent generations. The Bouif and Sablas spinning mills flourished for nearly 40 years. Quickly becoming the most productive in the region, they weathered the challenges of industrial decline through the boldness and innovation of their heirs, preserving the family legacy despite the economic upheavals of the time.
Between the early 20th century and the Great War, Paris became known to the world as the cradle of fashion, and as soon as the war ended, Georges Tinland established a silk knitting workshop near Valence, La Bonneterie Cévenole. He was the first to sell silk stockings under the name Montagut. This is why his name is associated with the birth of the brand.
Like many businesses in Ardèche, La Bonneterie Cévenole provided support to the resistance, notably by lending vans and sheltering refugees.Georges Tinland steered the brand towards the most demanding clientele at this time, producing luxury lingerie. This marked the beginning of a long tradition of excellence within the company.
The post-war period was marked by a shortage of many natural materials, including silk.In response to this major issue, Nylon and Rayon were gradually introduced into lingerie and stockings. This was also the first appearance of the flower, which would become Montagut's future logo.
Léo Gros, son-in-law of Georges Tinland, developed an artificial yarn with a friend that mimicked silk in all its qualities. This unique material was then called Fil Lumière® by its creator, who at the time could hardly have imagined how much his invention would make the brand shine. Léo Gros's commercial dynamism led him to travel around the world, enabling the brand to introduce its Fil Lumière® polos across the Middle East and Indochina.
It was the acceleration of the company’s global reputation that, under the leadership of Pierre Gros, son of Léo, acquired significant expertise in fully fashioned knitting of wool, cotton, and cashmere, and now includes all natural fibers in its French collections of polos and pullovers.
Montagut acquires the brand Pôles, a specialist in high-end, creative knitwear, sharing its values of craftsmanship and quality. Iconic of the 1980s, Pôles is renowned for its silk-wool knitted in large gauge and its oversized styles, characteristic of a distinctive fashion and era.
It was the acceleration of the company’s global reputation that, under the leadership of Pierre Gros, son of Léo, acquired significant expertise in fully fashioned knitting of wool, cotton, and cashmere, and now includes exceptional materials in its French collections of polos and pullovers.
What was once a workshop has today become a global company that strives every day to maintain its French authenticity and the expertise accumulated over nearly 145 years to create exceptional products. Today, the sixth generation takes the reins.Nourished by the family heritage, Marine and Nicolas bring their touch of modernity and style to continue flourishing the knitwear specialist.
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