The Moulin Roty Story…
Once upon a time Moulin Roty
Imagine, its 1972, and a group of 20 or so friends are searching for a common project that will provide both work and a certain way of life. The group decides to purchase an old mill that has fallen into ruins. They renovate the mill bit by bit so that their families can move in and live there together as a commune. The adventure begins with screen printing and craft items (lamps, jewellery, decorative items . . . )
The soft car
Two products changed the course of Moulin Roty. Firstly, a small car made of wood, foam and fabric which proves an enormous success at the different trade shows and markets where it is shown.
La Douillette
Secondly, ‘la douillette’, a soft rag doll, which seduces everyone by its originality. An order for 1500 small cars propels the Moulin Roty Workshop onto the toy and nursery markets.
Moulin Roty go on to launch an entire collection derived from the small fabric car. The fabric rocking toys are launched in 1975 and prove to be a huge success…
Decorative items
At the outset, the Moulin Roty Workshop specialised in decorative items. It then went on to children’s and nursery rooms and launched wooden paintings, height charts, clocks as well as small stack-up wooden toys.
Moulin Roty becomes a cooperative
To ensure the development and the durability of the company, the founding members adopt the status of a cooperative. Even today, this status allows us to conserve the founding values of the brand : solidarity, sharing and respect.
Les douillettes
Since its invention, the ‘douillette’ has known a multitude of transformations. The collection has been enriched with rabbits, bears, elephants and has taken all forms and colours.
Faithful play friends that are soft and reassuring; they have made their place in the everyday life of numerous children over the years.
Tradition : Yesterday’s toys for today’s children
‘Yesterday’s toys for today’s children’ : a new concept sees the day – toys inspired by the past that are updated to today’s tastes. A range aimed at teaching toddlers the toys and games of the past and for parents or grand-parents to re-connect with objects that were once part of their childhood. A partnership is established with our Romanian friend, Arpad Kovacs, a renowned ex-prinicpal dancer. Thanks to the company he founded in his native village, Arpad creates the large majority of our games and toys in wood.
Mimi la Souris
Nini, the emblematic mouse from our current range La Grande Famille, joined the family in 1997 under the name of Mimi the Mouse.
La Grande Famille
La Grande Famille sees the day. New characters are continually added to the family each year : Sylvain the rabbit, Perlette the frog, Charlotte the cow, Philemon the pig, Jeanne the duck, Igor the wolf, Albert the sheep, and more recently, Felicie the chick, Amedee the duck, Mimosa the cat, Apolline the mole …
Louna
Louna sees the day ! This little colourful bee revolutionizes the world of infancy. Out go pastel colours! In come yellow, fuschia, orange, and bright green.
Our toys begin to travel
The first subsidiary in Great Britain is created. Our small friends also take to the web and communicate with the whole world.
Moulin Roty La Boutique
Moulin Roty inaugurates its first shop in Nantes. The entire range is on show in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Moulin Roty celebrates its 30th birthday!
Moulin Roty is 30 years old! A large party is organised for the occasion bringing together more than 600 people : friends, journalists, suppliers and family, all brought together for one night to share the enthusiasm and the success of the Moulin Roty adventure.
Edouard
Edouard is one of the characters that left its mark in the history of our little characters. A little duck with ruffled hair and a naïve face, it’s the first time that we use linen for a textile collection.
The Jolis pas Beaux
The Jolis pas Beaux (literally, The Pretty Uglies) were born in 2008 from a multitude of scrap fabric. Their odd look and crazy attitude soon seduces parents and the family has grown from one year to the next. Today, it is one of Moulin Roty’s star collections.
Today
Today, Moulin Roty represents 40 years of dreams and softness. A multitude of characters and stories have punctuated the years.
Moulin Roty is also 75 people across the world of which 37 are associates-employees based in Nort sur Erdre.
Moulin Roty offers more than 800 references and each year, 1.5 million products leave the company for destinations both near and far : France, neighbouring countries, the USA, Japan, Australia . . . Our comforters cross oceans and are sold throughout the world.
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