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History of C.M. Offray and Son, Inc. Ribbon History Beautiful ribbons, once only affordable by the nobility of the French society in the 17th century, are now experiencing renewed interest and adoration. Not only are they beautiful to behold, wonderful to use as embellishments, and sensuous to the touch, ribbons are also used to express emotions and feelings of pride, reward accomplishments and excellence, and provide opportunities for hours of creative expression. Throughout our lives, ribbons are associated with special moments, birthday packages dressed with ribbons hint of the treasures to be found inside and bridal flowers and accessories with flowing ribbon streamers add to the promise of a happy future. What would the holiday season be without red satin and velvet ribbons accenting the greenery of wreaths and garlands? Songwriters and poets have included images of ribbons to tell their stories. The yellow ribbon, so popular during the Persian Gulf war was first associated with a Civil War Ballad, "She wore a yellow ribbon". With the many colors, patterns, textures, and sizes of ribbons available today, it is no wonder that they are often used with abandonment, to decorate our homes, our clothing, our crafts and hobbies, our gifts and packages, as we nurture our aesthetic sense of beauty and elegance. Although the first ribbon factory in the United States was founded in 1815, ribbons were being made in Europe for some time. Colonial Americans had rejected the use of ribbons due to anti-English political feelings. In France and then England, the use of ribbons represented nobility, in fact at one point, English Parliament reserved the wearing of ribbons by only nobility. At first ribbons were made in the homes of peasant farmers on looms that they rented from the manufacturers. The invention of an advanced loom capable of weaving numerous ribbons at one time, heralded a breakthrough in the production of ribbons. The popularity was such that the number of looms in Basle, Switzerland, a leading ribbon producing region, went from 1,225 in 1775 to 7,631 in 1870. The introduction of the jaquard loom around 1815 and the floral and pictoral ribbons that it made, further expanded the use and desire for lovely ribbons. At the height of their popularity as a fashion embellishment during the 17th and 18th centuries, ribbons were favored by men as well as women. Shoes and hats were lavishly trimmed with ribbon rosettes and cockades. Garments were excessively embroidered and embellished with ribbons of silk and gold. In fact, one male garment in the Victoria and Albert museum is trimmed with 250 yards of ribbons. Many of the techniques for ribbon manipulation that we use today in our creations are taken from these earlier examples and recreated in present day ribbons. Ribbon roses, for instance, were very poular with our Victorian ancestors and their ancestors before them. The popular ladies magazines of the early 1900's featured this classic Victoriana flower as hair ornaments, on belts and bags, lingerie items, and on decorative pillows for the home. Ribbon embroidery also had its roots in the elaborate embellishments of the French and English ball gowns and accessories and was later seen in examples of fine handwork on Victorian crazy quilts. From: Offray's - "A Splendor of Ribbons" (Michael Friedman Publishing Group) History of C.M. Offray and Son, Inc. Since 1876, C.M. Offray and Son, Inc. has created, manufactured, and merchandised "The World's Most Beautiful Ribbons". Claude V. Offray, Jr., President and grandson of the founder carried on the family tradition until March, 2002 when Berwick Industries LLC acquired it. He succeeded his father in 1962 and his grandfather, who as a seventeen year old fabric designer from France arrived in New York as a manufacturer's representative of French textiles and fancy ribbons. The magnificent silk ribbons he designed many years ago are still used as inspiration for today's lovely products. C.M. Offray and Son, Inc., an international company, is the largest and most modern producer of ribbons and narrow fabrics for the apparel manufacturing, home furnishings, home sewing, craft and floral, industrial, gift and packaging markets. Offray's manufacturing facilities utilize the latest machinery and computer technology available. In 1900, the original mill was located in Paterson, New Jersey and moved to Hagerstown, Maryland in 1922. During World War II, the operation was completely rebuilt and modernized and the production turned over to war time requirements specializing in parachute tapes and webbings. After Word War II, Offray became the pioneer in designing and developing woven-edge ribbons using modern man-made fibers. Offray's ribbons are colorfast, washable, dry cleanable, do not shrink and require no ironing. Offray was the first to meet government specifications for flame retardancy without the use of chemicals... a leading factor in the children's sleepwear industry. A totally integrated, vertical marketing concept reinforces Offray's commitment to excellence from weaving and printing to packaging and display. Extensive market research ensures that Offray provides the latest colors and designs to customers around the world. To meet the needs of the growing craft and floral market, the Lion Ribbon Company was purchased in 1989. Lion, an Offray affiliate, produces and distributes hundreds of exclusive ribbons that are sought after by leading floral designers, internationally. Warehouses and shipping headquarters are located in Hagerstown, Maryland, Anniston, Alabama, Batesburg/Leesville, So. Carolina, as well as sales offices throughout Europe and Asia. |
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