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 The Lyon area contributes to the wealth of the Rhône-Alpes region, the French leader in textiles and clothing with 40,000 employees, and boasts strong potential in the field of fashion – textiles, garments, jewellery, cosmetics, design and, at a more regional level, furniture.
Ranked second in this industry behind Paris, Lyon employs 16,200 people in the private sector, spread between clothing, jewellery, footwear, leather goods and the perfume and cosmetics industry. The business of producing textiles, clothing and jewellery is estimated to generate sales of €1.2 billion.
Lyon's tremendous potential lies in a rich and diverse economic fabric, which features major international groups, dynamic and creative local companies, and expert subcontractors. This potential can be traced back to the city's economic history and heritage – it enjoys a strong reputation in chemicals, silk making, weaving and technical fabrics, and has had its own jewellery market since the 16th century.
Lyon's vibrant activity has given rise to designer brands that have now earned wide recognition: Nathalie Chaize, Millésia-Nina Ricci, Max Chaoul, Korloff, Augis 1830, Marie Michaud Créations, Tombé du Ciel, and the list goes on.
In the dermocosmetology arena, Lyon-based companies – such as Gattefossé, Lipha, Episkin, Coletica and Dermscan – are known for their research competencies, and are the direct suppliers to the leading cosmetology brands.
 Lyon's training and research capability reinforces the area's creative potential and is helping to renew the local economic fabric with ties to fashion. In education, the city boasts the Université de la Mode (Fashion University), ESMOD-Lyon and ITECH; and in research, the city is home to the headquarters of the French Institute for Textiles and Clothing and also hosts the world's leading research centre in these fields.
With backing from the local authorities, particularly Greater Lyon, fashion and design professionals have set up a resource centre for designers: the Village des Créateurs in the Passage Thiaffait, deep in Lyon's historical silk-making quarter.
Its purpose is threefold:
– encourage economic development and the promotion of young French and international designers, who will take up residence in the Passage Thiaffait for a maximum of three years;
– support and assist young designers in the Lyon area who are members of the Passage Thiaffait association;
– promote design through Lyon, city of fashion.
The Village also has a showroom where young designers can present their collections. This is also an exhibition venue, focusing on fashion and design open to international cultures.
Contact:
Tel: +33 (0)4 78 27 37 21
Fax: +33 (0)4 72 87 07 66
www.passagethiaffait.fr
createurs@passagethiaffait.fr
 In addition, it is no coincidence that Lyon plays host to two international trade fairs which contribute to the vibrancy of the area's fashion industries: Lyon Mode City and Print'Or, the jewellery event.
Lyon is also the venue for events concerning innovation. These include the International Science-Industry Forum on New Textiles and Functional Clothing, and the European Dermocosmetology Seminar organised by the Centre Européen de Dermocosmétologie.
The city also boasts a Museum of Textiles; established in 1854, it has the largest collection of textiles in the world.
Today Lyon has the ambition to form a fully-fledged fashion cluster in the Greater Lyon area – nurturing joint projects involving all strands of the fashion sector, building ties with the artistic and design world, and running promotions.
To do this, Greater Lyon is implementing a development strategy with four themes:
– support for design, notably through the Village des Créateurs in Passage Thiaffait
– enhancement and innovation
– events and fairs
– communication and promotion
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