What does Toyine Sellers offer?

Large-scale productions, small batches:
a team and tools for specific projects 

The workshop is run by five weavers, working with looms from the 1960s: the semi-mechanical looms allow for quicker production to fulfill larger orders, while still ensuring almost manual oversight since production can be interrupted at any time (and it often is!). Adjusting an effect, inserting a thread of different thickness to add texture… These are things a mechanical loom cannot do. The other two looms are reserved for 100% handmade work, particularly for rugs. Each fabric is produced on demand, and the workshop keeps no stock because the batches of raw materials are so variable in terms of color dye lots and thicknesses that part of a fabric batch might not match a subsequent production run. Therefore, Toyine Sellers starts from scratch for each new order. It’s in this approach, closely tied to the material, the finish, and the client’s expectations, that Toyine’s excellence lies, launching a new collection every year. For 2024, two collections are currently in preparation.

How are projects conducted?

The workshop presents its collection through samples and can also discuss specific creation projects with clients in line with the workshop’s ethos. Toyine’s expertise and weaving craftsmanship ensure guidance and production oversight on every project: fabric usage, intended purpose, specific finishing requirements, etc. The workshop can advise, guide, and sometimes collaborate with other trades involved. To initiate a project, decoration professionals can directly contact the workshop via the website or phone to speak with one of the team members. The project is then discussed, samples are exchanged or presented during a meeting, and a meeting with Toyine is organized. Once the design is finalized, the workshop proceeds with sampling for final validation before initiating the order. Lead times range from 7 to 9 weeks, with a minimum order requirement of 2 meters. Toyine places particular importance on meeting and interacting with her clients: the workshop doesn’t have a showroom, but instead, a team of enthusiasts who travel to better understand the projects and needs.

An example of collaboration : Toyine et Chahan Minassian

One of Toyine’s most memorable challenges was a custom weaving project conceived and executed for  Chahan Minassian, who desired a series of tapestry hangings for the Bar des Ambassadeurs at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. For this project, the interior architect selected three samples from the collection, each with different colors and textures. He wanted the fabric to transition gradually from brown to gold, and then to gray. Toyine immediately understood that it would be a significant challenge. The team worked on multiple prototypes before successfully weaving Chahan Minassian’s vision. Working on ancient looms, with this project involving 18 different materials, textures, and colors, posed a real challenge. It requires patience because the weaver can only weave a small surface before changing the weft thread, and finding the right rhythm for a perfect gradient. For Toyine, this project was one of perseverance, iterations, but also love for art and the craft.