Museum of Printing on Fabrics | Mulhouse AlsaceMuseum of Printing on Fabrics | Mulhouse Alsace
©Museum of Printing on Fabrics | Mulhouse Alsace|MMSA

Museum of Printed Fabrics

when history, art and textiles meet

Decorative arts or fashion? Industry or history? The Musée de l’Impression sur Etoffes (MISE for the Mulhousians) is all of these and more. It concentrates in one place all the excellence of textile creation from around the world.

A little history

Mulhouse industrialists, guardians and collectors

The epic of the textile industry in Mulhouse began in 1746, and it was during the 18th century that printing contributed to the city’s rise. Mulhouse and Alsace became, in the following century, the world leaders in the printed fabric market!

It was in 1833 that Mulhouse textile manufacturers began to safeguard their creations. Better yet, they searched the world and the eras for something to enrich their collection.

The objective, at first, was to provide sources of inspiration to the industrialists. In fact, that is still the case today. The collection now has 6 million samples and 50,000 textile documents!”

Sheltered within a majestic 19th century building, part of this immense collection offers its beauty and delicacy to visitors, for a sumptuous journey through history and art.

A set unique in the world!

The Indian fabrics are something of the stars of the museum, and for good reason: arriving in Europe at the end of the 16th century, these cotton fabrics seduce with their rich and fresh designs. This finesse of execution, linked to the technique of printing by wooden boards and then copper rollers, decides Mulhouse, as early as 1746, to engage in the manufacture of these sumptuous fabrics.

Later, the advent of roller machines radically transforms the textile industry. It is closely followed by the development of chemistry, which provides industrialists with a new world: synthetic dyes. The first floor of the museum is dedicated to these revolutions, and also houses a lush collection of cashmeres.

The latest developments in fabric printing have their own dedicated space: from the flat or rotating frame to inkjet printing, the great and beautiful history of textiles has not finished surprising us!

3 reasons to visit the Museum of Printed Fabrics

Temporary exhibitions

In addition to its permanent collection, which is regularly renewed, the Museum of Printed Fabrics offers remarkable temporary exhibitions.

For example, the museum is open to collaborations, such as the one with the Wallpaper Museum de Rixheim around the plant world.

The Museum of Printed Fabrics has already welcomed the papess of chic lingerie Chantal Thomass for a rather “Impertinent” exhibition, remarkable and noticed.
And it is Alain Manoukian, the famous pianist, who composed the soundtrack of the exhibition “Bal(l)ade” visible in 2018.

Workshops and courses: discover printing with your own hands

Are you coming with family or friends? The Museum of Printed Fabrics organizes workshops: an opportunity to create small wonders yourself, to take home as a souvenir ☺.

Discover the “woodblock printing to make your tablecloths or other textile products (5 people maximum). Or, create your own patchwork with woodblock printing and assemble your patches with a sewing session.

These workshops take place over one day: don’t hesitate to inquire and book your session with the museum!

Partnership, store, a museum full of surprises

Want to extend the experience of printing and beautiful designs? The Museum of Printed Fabrics offers a twin ticket, for an additional €2 at full price, with the Wallpaper Museum in Rixheim, a few kilometers from Mulhouse.

Professionals can also access the museum’s entire collection of patterns (6 million samples), from toiles de Jouy to indiennes, from flowers to feathers, from Art Nouveau patterns to batiks, etc. Hermès, IKEA, Oxbow and Clairefontaine have done it ☺.

The icing on the cake, the museum’s store is full of gift ideas, and if you’re coming at the end of the year don’t miss their wonderful Christmas market!

How to enjoy the museum?

14 rue Jean-Jacques Henner – 68100 Mulhouse

Bus: line 15, stop “Bonnes Gens”

Tram: line 1, 3 or tram-train, stop “République”

Car: small paying parking lot in front of the museum or underground parking lot at the train station

Bicycle: Vélocité station at the Ring Building or at the station

Adult: €10

Reduced: €5

Children (4 to 18 years old): €2.50

Free up to age 4.

Seniors (+ 60 years old): 8 €

Family (2 adults and 2 children under 18 years old): 20 €

Tip:
The Museum of Printed Fabrics is part of the Mulhouse City Pass! Get a great rate to visit this park and enjoy many other benefits.

Enjoy the surroundings

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