Our History
A wonderful family adventure and a company on a human scale
Founded in 2010 in southwestern France by Wei and Guillaume Arbel, Maison de la Soie is now THE leading French brand for silk bedding and linens.
Our story begins in a garage
Like many entrepreneurs, Wei and Guillaume launched the Maison de la Soie venture in their garage. As the business began to grow, their products gradually took over their home. The couple then found a modest warehouse in Serres-Castet, a charming little town in the Béarn region. Since 2021, Maison de la Soie has been sharing a 700m² warehouse with another e-commerce company specializing in natural home textiles.
Photo: Before and After—our facilities in Serres-Castet
Discovering a Little-Known Market
The idea to create Maison de la Soie came about when a close friend of Wei’s, who is of Chinese origin, asked her if she could bring back a silk comforter from her trip to China. At the time, it wasn’t easy to find high-quality silk products at an affordable price on the French market. There were few competitors, and they took advantage of this to charge exorbitant markups. That was the spark: why not introduce these products to French consumers?
Photo: the famous silk comforters
Making Silk Affordable
After conducting market research, Wei and Guillaume decided to launch a product line priced two to three times lower than their competitors at the time. It was an instant success! They had succeeded in their mission: making silk accessible to as many people as possible. That’s how silk found its place in the bedding and linens market in France. Today, thanks to the economies of scale we achieve and our direct online sales without intermediaries, we’re able to offer you a wide selection and the most affordable silk on the market.
Photo: Jiayuguan Fortress, a strategic crossing point on the ancient Silk Road
In Search of the Finest Craftsmanship
In France, the silk industry died out in the early 20th century. In China, however—the birthplace of silk—the production and processing of this noble, natural fiber have never ceased. Today, China is even the world’s leading producer of silk. China is renowned for the exceptional quality of its silk and its exquisitely crafted garments, thanks in large part to its time-honored craftsmanship. It was therefore only natural that Wei and Guillaume turned to this country for the production of their high-end products. After extensive research and thorough verification of working conditions in the workshops, they selected the manufacturers with whom we have now been working for a long time. In fact, Guillaume meets with them regularly to ensure the quality of production.
Photo: delicately woven silk threads
“With time and patience, mulberry leaves are transformed into a silk dress”
As the proverb so aptly puts it, silk production is a painstaking craft that takes a great deal of time. Furthermore, some of our products are handmade—for example, our silk comforters and the finishing touches on our scarves. Our production therefore requires a skilled workforce capable of meticulous attention to detail. And unlike our Chinese competitors, we have strict specifications that our manufacturers are committed to following. This lengthy and precise process justifies the price of silk. Our goal is to make this luxury affordable without compromising product quality. We rely on word of mouth to build our reputation rather than on marketing, the cost of which would inevitably be passed on to the consumer.
Photo: Hand-making a silk comforter
Informing You About the Benefits of Silk
How can you sell a product you don’t believe in? At Maison de la Soie, we simply can’t do that. We’ve chosen to work with and sell products whose benefits we’re fully convinced of. In fact, the entire team has adopted Maison de la Soie products! Pillowcases, scrunchies, beauty masks, face masks, sheets, or duvets—we can’t live without them anymore. And to help you bring silk into your life and into your bed, we take the time to educate you about the exceptional properties of this natural fiber. We regularly update our buying guide, blog, and social media to help you make informed choices.
Photo: Maison de la Soie blog—learn all about silk
The Maison de la Soie Team
Maison de la Soie began in 2010 with Wei, who was then a sole proprietor. In 2012, when the company was founded, she became its Manager. Today, Wei plays a very versatile role on the team; she handles accounting, package preparation, and even buys pastries for the coffee break!
Favorite product: Silk-based night cream
After a career in aviation, Guillaume decided to make a radical career change to join the family business full-time. He replaced Wei as Managing Director of Maison de la Soie in 2016 and oversees administrative operations and business development. Occasionally, he also manages Customer Service.
Favorite products: Silk comforters
Specializing in textiles since 2008, Céline worked for several French clothing brands in Paris and Strasbourg before joining Maison de la Soie in 2020. She manages the website’s editorial and visual content, oversees the creation of blog posts, helps add new products, and manages social media.
Favorite products: Silk scrunchies & pillowcases
Olivier is our web developer—the one who brings our ideas to life by turning them into clear, fast, and efficient websites. A versatile professional, he handles both front-end and back-end development with equal ease, always with precision and creativity. His keen eye for detail and well-thought-out code save the entire team valuable time. He also has that little something extra: the ability to resolve complex situations calmly and effectively.
Favorite products: 4-season silk comforter & silk comforter cover
Romain joined us in the summer of 2024. He brings his customer service experience, gained in call centers, to provide attentive listening and high-quality support. On a daily basis, he handles after-sales service messages, answers calls to assist customers, and manages return shipments. Always available and attentive, Romain helps create the most pleasant customer experience possible.
Favorite products: Silk and Tanboocell pillows and 25-momme silk pillowcases
