Why it belongs in ORBIS
Oloron-Sainte-Marie's last beret factory since 1840—handmade French wool berets in two days of work, French army supplier and world symbol.
Laulhère, established in 1840 at the foot of the Pyrenees in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, is today the last historic beret factory still in operation in France. The making of a Laulhère beret involves approximately ten manufacturing steps carried out by skilled craftspeople and takes two full days of work, sometimes more, with numerous checks and adjustments that make each item unique. All wool is sourced exclusively from French breeding, and all production occurs in Oloron-Sainte-Marie. Once the cradle of the beret with a dozen manufacturers, Oloron-Sainte-Marie now maintains three active factories. Laulhère has long supplied the French army and stands as the perpetual guardian of over 180 years of French beret craftsmanship tradition.