Cervin

Cervin is a French hosiery brand made by L'Arsoie in Sumène in the Cévennes, a silk house founded in 1920. It is known for fully fashioned seamed stockings in silk and nylon, along with suspender belts and lingerie.

What is Cervin?

Cervin, also known as Cervin Paris, is the stocking brand of L'Arsoie, a company in Sumène in the Gard département that has made stockings, tights and silk goods in the Cévennes since 1920. The company holds the French Living Heritage Company label.

History

The silk house was founded in 1920 by the great-great-uncle of chief executive Serge Massal, and the brand marked its centenary in 2020. In 1999 the company put its old Reading knitting looms back into service. Designed in Pennsylvania and shipped to France under the Marshall Plan, the machines can knit 30 stocking legs at once.

Products and positioning

• Fully fashioned stockings with a back seam, knitted on machines from the 1930s to 1950s
• Silk stockings, which make up about a quarter of production, plus nylon and lycra styles
• Suspender belts, waist cinchers and lingerie
• Around 60 models in some 10 colours, with names such as Belle Epoque and Charleston

Distribution

Cervin sells mainly through its own online store and through a small network of stockists in Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Rennes and San Francisco, with a share of production exported to the United States.

Why it matters

Cervin shows how a heritage hosiery maker can survive by focusing on vintage-style craftsmanship, rare machinery and direct online sales to a global niche audience.

Frequently asked questions

Where are Cervin stockings made?

Cervin stockings are made by L'Arsoie in Sumène, in the Cévennes region of southern France.

What is Cervin known for?

Cervin is known for fully fashioned seamed stockings in silk and nylon, knitted on vintage Reading looms.

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