The textile industry is iconic within Cholet and its surrounding region. Before the invention of modern manufacturing methods, weaving played a key role in textile manufacturing. The Cholet red handkerchief has been passed down through the centuries to become our local emblem.
Shades of colours
Cholet has a long history of being specialised in weaving. This tradition has marked the history of the town forever. It began to grow in the 19th century when household linens and handkerchiefs were developing.
Originally made in several different colours, Cholet handkerchiefs became red and white at the beginning of the 19th century.
A song, a story, an entire legend
In 1990, Théodore Botrel's song "Le Mouchoir Rouge de Cholet" (The Red Handkerchief of Cholet) made him famous. His song highlighted the period marked by the Vendée Wars.
A genius idea
This song was discovered by the Cholet industrialist Léon Maret, who decided to produce the handkerchief as it was described by the artist. A publicity master stroke of the time, Léon Maret sent some handkerchiefs to Théodore Botrel for him to hand out wherever he went. The idea snowballed, and so the red and white handkerchief was born with Cholet becoming the handkerchief capital.
