Moulin Roty
1970: Imagine it's 1972 and a group of about 20 friends are looking for a common project that will provide both work and a way of life. The group decides to buy an old mill that has fallen into ruins. Little by little, they renovate the mill so that their families can move in as a commune and live together. The adventure begins with screen printing and craft items (lamps, jewellery, decorative items...)
1975: Two products changed Moulin Roty's course. First, a small car made of wood, foam and fabric that proves to be a huge success at the various fairs and markets where it is displayed.
Secondly, 'la douillette', a soft rag doll, seduces everyone by its originality. An order for 1500 small cars propels the Moulin Roty Workshop into the toy and nursery markets. Moulin Roty then launches an entire collection derived from the small fabric car. The fabric swing toy is launched in 1975 and proves to be a great success...
1978: In the beginning, the Moulin Roty Workshop specialized in decorative items. It then moved into children's and children's rooms and launched wooden paintings, elevation maps, clocks and small stackable wooden toys.
1980: To ensure the development and sustainability of the company, the founding members adopt cooperative status. Even today, this status allows us to maintain the brand's basic values: solidarity, sharing and respect.
1988: A fire destroyed the entire workshop, leaving nothing behind. The designs, stock, files and machines were completely lost. Moulin Roty moved to Nort sur Erdre, 15 kilometers away, and decided to start all over again. This fresh start also gave extra importance to the design and sales aspects of the company. The latter retained its cooperative status but became a public limited company (SA) in 1991.
1996: 'Yesterday's toys for today's children': a new concept is born - toys inspired by the past adapted to today's tastes. A range to teach toddlers toys and games from the past and for parents or grandparents to reconnect with objects that were once part of their childhood.
1997: Nini, the emblematic mouse from our current La Grande Famille range, joined the family in 1997 under the name Mimi the Mouse.
2000: Louna sees the day! This little colorful bee is revolutionizing the children's world. Go pastels! In come yellow, fuchsia, orange and bright green.
The first subsidiary in Great Britain is founded. Our little friends also go on the web and communicate with the whole world.
2001: Moulin Roty opens its first store in Nantes. The entire range can be seen in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
2008: The Jolis pas Beaux (literally, The Pretty Uglies) were born in 2008 from a multitude of scraps. Their strange look and silly attitude soon seduce parents and the family has grown from one year to the next. Today it is one of Moulin Roty's star collections.
2019: Every new collection starts with a story, a universe, an adventure. This "once upon a time" prompts our illustrators, designers and seamstresses to work the shapes, materials and volumes, to draw, assemble and sew our future heroes. Always taking into account the constraints imposed by quality and standards, but above all the fun and joy of the children, they bring to life the series and characters that are so dear to us. And what everyone secretly hopes is that they are passed down from generation to generation…
2023: Moulin Roty's aim has always been to combine softness, fantasy and tenderness while developing an impeccable standard of quality. These nearly 50 years have delighted the children whose paths our characters have crossed. They have also given us great pleasure in their development. The different testimonials we receive every day encourage us to think that we are on the right track, to keep children and adults dreaming. We work every day to continue this beautiful adventure… Thanks to all the people who, from near or far, have contributed or are collaborating on this adventure: to the stores through which we try to offer our customers the best service, to the customers, parents and grandparents, who trust us, to the children who give us the pleasure of offering us sweetness and enthusiasm every day, and to all the toys and characters of Moulin Roty without whom none of this would exist! Long live this exciting adventure...