The Ribbon-Weaving Museum

The textile industry will make Comines’ fame as from the XIVth century, on both sides of the Lys river.

Unfortunately, the wars of the XVIth and XVIIth centuries ruined Comines’ prosperity, while the city was moreover split by the Lys river, which had become a border pursuant to the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713.

In 1719, Phillipe Hovyn, a flax merchant and manufacturer in Ypres, installs a ribbon-weaving workshop in Comines France, in order to avoid the customs duties. He will find skilled labour in Comines, and the water of the Lys river is used to ret the flax. The ribbon weaver, who used to be a self-employed craftsman, becomes a factory worker in about 1870, with the invention of the steam engine.

At its peak, in about 1900, the ribbon-weaving industry consisted of 3500 weaving looms for an annual yield of 400 million meters of various ribbons. Comines is at that time considered as the worldwide capital of functional ribbon.  
Located on the frontline, Comines got completely destroyed during the 14-18 War, together with the whole industry. The recovery was difficult, but the industry found back its cruising speed in 1930.
In 1900, the needle loom revolutionized ribbon-weaving and will later further be perfected to allow, still today, phenomenal productions. All these improvements however caused harm to employment. Factories closed because they failed to modernize their tool, other ones produced more and more, while reducing their staff, however.
The annual production currently amounts over 600 million meters on 250 quick weaving looms. 
 

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