400 Years of Excellence at the Texdecor Group

In 17th century France the textiles industry was largely composed of family businesses with talented weavers behind the creation of fabrics. The Motte family were well known merchants and manufacturers of wool in Lille, a key city in northern France where trade between Europe and England flourished, giving the business a firm advantage. Despite this geographical advantage it was the foresight and ingenuity of visionaries within the family and the industrial revolution that secured the future success of the brand. In 1790, Jean-Baptiste Motte became an Industrialist specialising in textiles. Founder of the ‘Manufacture Motte-Brédart’, he was also a prominent figure in society as Mayor Councillor.

In 1840, his descendant Louis Motte became the force behind the business in nearby Roubaix. Also an Industrialist specialising in textiles, he realised the potential of importing innovative technologies such as the ‘self-acting’ cotton system from England. As a result, this became the largest cotton spinning mill in France and he then founded both a cotton weaving plant and a wool spinning mill.

The Motte Factory was symbolic of industrial architecture in northern France, where an historical monument has since been erected. Louis Motte and his mother then opened a grand cotton spinning mill which was engulfed in flames to be rebuilt even larger. In area, the mill was almost the size of all other spinning mills in northern France combined, later becoming the largest in France. In 1890, Alfred Motte (Louis’s youngest brother) began to seek out the best textiles workers in France and England, recruiting the best dye technicians of the time whilst improving the factory facilities.

In the 1970s, Raphaël Motte steered the company into uncharted territory, expanding beyond textile manufacturing and into design. Making the courageous decision to sell almost all the Motte factories, Raphaël founded Texdecor in Willems City in 1974 before unfortunately passing away only a few years later. Possessing a strong affinity for design and sharing his father’s vision of creating luxury fabrics and wall décor for the French people, his son Raphaël Motte took over the company at age 25.

Specialising in unique, high-quality textiles and wallcoverings, Texdecor now employ 70 designers across seven brands. Raphaël’s partnership with Mathieu Derville, his brother-in-law and Sales Specialist, has fortified the success of Texdecor.

Now the largest designer and manufacturer interior fabrics and décor in France. Texdecor sells and imports its illustrious products across Europe and the world, continuing to push the boundaries of design and create innovative approaches to manufacturing.

Zepel are extremely proud of this partnership, sharing their passion for excellence and refined tradition built on family, integrity, and sheer determination.