Musée de la chemiserie et de l'élégance masculine

About the museum

In 1860 Charles Brillaud opened the first mechanised lingerie workshop in Argenton-sur-Creuse. Other manufacturers quickly followed: by around 1875, some 400 women were working in the town’s workshops, mainly producing men’s shirts for the large Parisian department stores. In the early 1960s, seventeen workshops still employed around 1,200 machinists, and the town earned the nickname “Cité de la chemise” (City of the Shirt).

The idea for the museum was born in 1980, the Year of Heritage, among former clothing-industry workers who wanted to preserve the region’s industrial past. An association was founded in 1982 by Jean-René Gravereaux, a former manufacturer from the town. The museum became municipal on January 1, 1989, received recognition from the Direction des Musées de France in 1990, opened to the public in July 1993, has been run by the communauté de communes (inter-municipal authority) since 1997, and carries the “Musée de France” designation.

The museum occupies a U-shaped 19th-century factory. The north wing, Brillaud’s first workshop, houses the permanent exhibitions; the south wing, the former Guiot workshop, has two rooms for temporary exhibitions. A small textile garden occupies the courtyard between the two wings.

Highlights

• “MODES HOMME, la chemise d’hier et d’aujourd’hui” trail, with a mural on the evolution of the shirt
• Reconstructed workshop with old machines, including a Belle Époque Singer work table
• 1993 film on the lives of Argenton’s shirtmakers
• 19th-century factory overlooking the Creuse
• Small textile garden in the courtyard

Permanent exhibitions

• MODES HOMME, la chemise d'hier et d'aujourd'hui – The history of the shirt, from underwear to visible garment, with a painted mural on its evolution, bespoke tailoring and ready-to-wear.
• LA CHEMISE D'HOMMES, une histoire de femmes – A trail devoted to the women workers, with a reconstructed workshop and the stages of manufacture from design to packaging.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Communauté de communes

Admission & discounts

The prices shown apply to the combined ticket for the Musée de la Chemiserie and the Argentomagus archaeological museum. Free admission for children under 6, ICOM members, Friends of the Musée de la Chemiserie and ASSAAM members, on presentation of a card. Free admission during the European Heritage Days.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The permanent exhibitions are accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Afternoon birthday party with snacks for €50, for up to 10 children aged 6 to 12, from 14:30 to 17:00. “Textile Fab’” courses during the short school holidays for ages 7–12 (€6 for 2 days, up to 12 children, from 14:30 to 16:30). Thursday workshops in July and August at €3 per child, from 10:30 to 12:00, by registration.

Getting there & parking

By car: A20 motorway, 2 hours 30 minutes from Paris.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit