Manufacture of umbrella and parasol since 1868

WHO ARE WE ?

Welcome to AYRENS’ world

Nearly 150 years of French manufacture of umbrellas and parasols, and promotion of quality, tradition and innovation.  

Let us thank you for the interest shown to our House. We hope you will enjoy the visit. 

Circa 200 models of umbrellas or parasols of our collections are shown in the site.  

Whether you own a boutique or you are a company willing to personalise an umbrella for communication purposes, we hope that you will find a model meeting your requirements. 

If not, please feel free to detail what you need by email at info@ayrens.com or either click on the link SAUVAGNAT where you may find a model meeting your needs.   

Umbrella AYRENS 

Founded in 1868, AYRENS is the oldest French manufacturer of high-end umbrellas and parasols. For nearly 150 years, we dedicate our know-how to meet your needs.  

Designer in the early 60’s of the very first “Haute-couture” lines for the fashion industry, AYRENS dedicates all its energy to conceive and to manufacture fashionable umbrellas tied to Fashion and Trends.  

Our brollies are made in France. Our workshops employ experts with solid know-how, built on their very long experience in the industry. Workshops are located at Saint-Pardoux La Rivière, 20 km North of Brantome, Green Perigord, in the heart of National Perigord-Limousin Park.  

Such privileged location feeds our deep culture of tradition, authenticity, innovation and perfection and contributes to re-generate the creative spirit of our House.  

Seller area" lists retailers where to buy an AYRENS umbrella.  

AYRENS’ HISTORY 

1868 : Mr PAILLARGUE, itinerant tinsmith moves from the Auvergne to the Perigord. Apart from its main business, tinsmith repairs and then makes umbrellas. 
  

1905 : Mr PAILLARGUE invites his nephew Leon MEYLEU with his wife, to join him in the Perigord. They perpetuate traditional business (tinplating, manufacture, repair of umbrellas) and later set-up a Department Store in NONTRON. 
  

1927 : Their son, Ciris MEYLEU, develops AYRENS which then evolves from a craftsmanship to a small industrial company specialised in manufacture of umbrellas.   


1962 : Christian takes-over from father Ciris and pursues the route. In order to overcome the growing trend of imports from China (still under import quotas), he launches "Haute Couture" collections. Design is made by his wife Marie-Jose.   


1968 : Christian MEYLEU builds-up a sales team to widely sell to domestic market.   


1972 : AYRENS moves from Nontron to Saint-Pardoux-La-Riviere still the current location of the workshops.
AYRENS designs original and exclusive cuttings of canopies. This differentiation vis-a-vis competition enables AYRENS to own a range of 150 exclusive cuttings, duly patterned in order to protect them from counterfeiters.  


1985 : The exclusive cutting designs (some of which qualified “works of art”) are acknowledged by European umbrella manufacturers (German, Swiss, Belgian, Spanish). AYRENS hence becomes their shaper and manufactures their high-end fashion lines.   


1990 : Both the levy of import quotas and the opening of borders lead to massive imports from China of weak quality at very low prices.
This devastates the industry. 100 manufacturers were up and running in France in 1990. Today only 5 significant umbrella-makers are left. AYRENS is the sole remaining in the South-West.  The market share of French manufactured fashionable umbrellas shrunk like Balzac’s shagreen. This market share represents currently 2% only.  


1999 : AYRENS signs a licence with the famous TEXIER House, a French bag-maker
TEXIER web site, 


2005 : Christian Meyleu already retired since 2004, plans to close AYRENS in June 2005 due to unsuccessful attempts to sell for years.The current shareholder closes the acquisition of AYRENS in-extremis mid-august with a plan to revitalize to develop and to drive AYRENS towards its 150th anniversary.


January 2006 : AYRENS is supplier to boutique COLETTE -Paris- acknowledged worldwide as the very unique « Paris temple » for fashion and trends. 

« The boutique Colette overturned the conventional view of French people over fashion, and opened the fashion microcosm to more ambitious and atypical ideas» (source : www.tendancesdemode.com).

Early 2006, AYRENS signs a licence with GUY LAROCHE fashion House. 


December 2007 : "MERCURE des Entrepreneurs HEC 2007" trophy is awarded to AYRENS for its take-over of the old manufacture of high-end umbrellas. Read the News…


March 2008 : “Journal de 13h TF1” broadcast a report about AYRENS.  Watch report


December 2009 : AYRENS enters the prestigious narrow circle of corporate excellence. AYRENS labelled "LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY" by the French State. Read the News… 

The “LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY” label is granted to French companies having "genuine and exceptional know-how and indisputable expertise” serving the “MADE IN FRANCE".  

As of December 2009, only 700 companies are labelled "Living Heritage Company" (ie: 2 out of 10 000).  

Among them, Houses as prestigious as LOUIS VUITTON, CHANEL, DIOR, HERMES, CELINE, LANVIN, GIVENCHY, KENZO, GUERLAIN, BOUCHERON, CHAUMET, BERLUTI, LESAGE, LONGCHAMP, REPETTO and other small and medium size companies contribute to the national and international reputation of French know-how.  

A reference for consumers and customers

The “LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY” label is a network of excellence for products “made in France” and a reference for consumers and customers who want to benefit from the services of a professional known for his respect of the state-of-the-art and his exceptional aptitude. 

LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY Houses are grounded on history and heritage, sometimes secular, innovative capabilities and indisputable and sharp know-how that enabled them to found their reputation.
The alliance between tradition, innovation and ability to provide tailor-made services enable these companies to sustain their growth as is the case for the Haute Couture business in respect of both fabric and fashion industries. 

The main feature of a "Living Heritage Company" is to benefit from a capital of expertise often grown-up and transmitted over generations. 

These companies are also illustrated by a second singularity which is to maintain domestic production, at a time when offshore outsourcing is growing. 

In December 2009, AYRENS celebrates Ten-year’s license with TEXIER House. TEXIER web site  


January 2010 : AYRENS supplies to a large company of the prestigious worldwide leader of luxury goods LVMH (LOUIS VUITTON MOET HENNESSY).  


September 2010 :SAUVAGNAT (ex-SOFRAP) based at Aurillac , European capital for umbrellas, becomes a sister company of AYRENS. Read the News… 

The buy-out of SAUVAGNAT, five years after the acquisition of AYRENS, highlights the willingness of our shareholder to maintain and to develop know-how, innovation capacity and manufacture of high-end fashionable umbrellas and parasols appealing to the acknowledged expertise of French workers in the field of luxury fashion accessories. 

We partner with companies and websites that promote the MADE IN FRANCE , namely:    

Contact-us to participate to such partnership at info@ayrens.com

Patterns and designs protected by copyright Ayrens ©

PHONE: (33) 5 53 56 71 10 - FAX: (33) 5 53 56 61 70 - info@ayrens.com - Legal information - Website by IRCF