About La Balaiterie
Here at La Balaiterie, we are truly passionate about what we do.
Our objective is to help preserve ancestral French know-how in the manufacture of straw brooms, and to rehabilitate the brush makers' machines used for centuries.
Our values
Preserve
Our objective is to help preserve ancestral French know-how in the manufacture of straw brooms, and to rehabilitate the brush makers' machines used for centuries.
Quality
All of our brooms are designed not only to look good, but also to be strong and practical. We strive to provide unique, artistic, and bespoke pieces no matter where you are in the world.
Sustainable
Each piece is handmade in our workshop in France, from locally grown sorghum straw, which is then dried, sorted and dyed by our own hands.
The history of broom making
Brooms have been around for a very long time, but it wasn't until the 19th century that the first broom made from sorghum straw was created.
Shortly after the introduction of sorghum to the south and southwest of France, the first such broom was painstakingly made by hand from a few strands of straw. Then a bright spark was born from the idea of introducing a handle, which made it even easier to use.
After the end of World War II and the Industrial Revolution, broom makers suddenly had a wealth of machines to help them in their trade. This brought brushes that were more elaborate, stronger, and essentially the product we know and love today.
The history of La Balaiterie
Our story begins in Saint-Chaptes more than 45 years ago.
For decades, the Dussere business was passed down from father to son, until Mr. Dussere retired in 2012, permanently closing the doors of the broom factory.
8 years later, Marie-Laure and Arnaud Gabriel arrive, who saw and fell in love with Mr. Dussere's products.
So they decided to take the plunge, buy his machines and learn this complex profession from the man himself.
Thus, with La Balaiterie, the legendary straw broom is brought back to life, combining the traditional making of the broom with a breath of modernity.
Made from local and sustainably sourced wood and straw fibers grown right next to their workshop, they are now known for designing sustainable, all-natural products that brighten up everyday tasks.
Recognized in the register of Rare Trades of France, La Balaiterie is today the only artisan to master each stage of the production chain, from cultivation, to drying, including ginning, straw dyeing and assembly.
