REPORTAGE – The Ille-et-Vilaine factory intends to fulfill its objective: to produce between 500,000 and 600,000 stuffed animals by 2024. Something “never seen”, for the company.
The upholstery machine hisses through the silence of the factory. The concentration is required for the fifteen seamstresses, on the Breton site of Doudou and company. In their hands, the mascotsPhrygesof the Paris Olympic Games, immediately recognizable by their bright red color, seem to come to life. And we have to go fast: the making of each plush must not exceed twenty minutes, in order to fulfill their commitment to produce several hundred thousand pieces by the start of the Olympic Games, in July 2024.
If these “Phryges» inspired by the famous cap of the Revolution are the emblems of France, a majority is nevertheless made in China. Enough to trigger a lively controversy, at a time when many players are ardently defending the reindustrialization of France. Aware of the challenges of relocation, Alain Joly, the founder of Doudou et compagnie had initially announced the production of 200,000 “Phryges» French in its Ille-et-Vilaine factory. This Tuesday, during a visit to the site, he declared that this production will be raised, at a minimum, to 500,000 “Phryges– a number that “may be increased during 2023-, out of the 1.2 million that his company must deliver in total.
Read alsoOlympic Games 2024: can the production of mascots still be relocated to France?
For the seamstresses of the manufacture, this ambitious objective represents a real challenge. The rate will increase from 300 daily stuffed animals to more than 1000 in the coming weeks. “Our production is going to be at its maximum, it’s unheard of“Blows Alain Joly. At his side, Tony Estanguet, President of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, proudly underlines “competitive spiritby Doudou and company.
During the visit, the two men observe the embroidery machines which adorn Marianne’s hair with the Paris 2024 logo with yellow threads. Then, the triple world champion stops at the assembly of the Phryges. Mélanie, 39, only has between 8 and 10 minutes to complete this task. “You have to find your modus operandi to go as quickly as possible“, she says. Hired at the start of the year, this former florist and leatherworker will sign a permanent contract in January 2023. On Tony Estanguet’s mascot, she sews a label with a unique number, 024, in reference to the year of the Games.
Meticulous work
Like Mélanie, 45 seamstresses will join the ranks of the factory by mid-2023. “These will be permanent jobs“says Alain Joly. Everyone will be trained in this new production. Annick, 64, watches the actions of her colleagues out of the corner of her eye. This former retiree worked 45 years as a technical trainer. While she had finished her career in 2020, Alain Joly calls her back in 2021: “I wasn’t ready to retire, so I immediately agreed to come back.She ensures the optimization of each stage of the production. For instance, “when turning the plush over, once it has been assembled, take the legs out first to save time“. For the polyester fiber padding, “you have to touch the plush to see if there is enough“, she adds.
Despite a frantic pace and meticulous work, the atmosphere is jovial among the seamstresses. Some are even moved by the launch of this pre-production: “The Olympic Games are a great experience in our careersmiles Annick. This event represents above all a showcase of the French know-how of the employees. For Doudou and company, these Games constitute “a real accelerator“. The company has invested 3.5 million euros to expand its Breton factory from 1,000 to 3,500 square meters.
Even in this Breton factory, the influence of China remains noticeable. Whether “80% of added value is provided in France», the raw materials come from the Chinese factory of Doudou and company. On the seamstresses’ tables, the red fur, eyes and legs of the mascots are already pre-cut and assembled by the group’s 300 Chinese employees. The final work of sewing, assembly, turning and finishing is then carried out in Brittany. Thanks to this distribution, Doudou et compagnie manages to lower the price of its French mascot to 39.90 euros, against 49.90 euros a few weeks ago. For example, legs made in France would, according to the company, be 40% more expensive.
The mascots 100% “made in chinawill be ten euros cheaper than their tricolor counterparts. It remains to be seen whether this risky bet of French manufacture will find its place with consumers. The “Phryges” French will be sold from January 15 in 5000 points of sale, including the stores King Toy, La Grande Récré, La Chaise Longue, the official store of the Olympic Games or Amazon. The distributors assure that they will highlight these mascots made in France “in specific cornersor directly on the e-commerce giant’s website. Sweeping away the controversies with the back of his hand, Tony Estanguet assures with a broad smile that “Phryge will now build a history“.
SEE ALSO – Olympic Games: the Paris 2024 mascots are Phrygian caps