On the occasion of its 175th anniversary, the company looks back on the remarkable journey of a small 19th-century feather factory in Le Mans, which, over the generations, has become the Manufacture des rêves®(Dream Factory). A place where the refinement of down, precision craftsmanship and the pursuit of comfort come together to create exceptional bedding, now recognised in the world of luxury.
The origins: a visionary manufacturer
It all began in 1850, in Le Mans. At the time, the factory specialised in the collection and industrial processing of feathers and down. This was a pioneering position for the time, placing the company among the first French organisations dedicated to this precious natural material.
From the outset, Drouault asserted what would become its identity: a clear specialisation, a deep attachment to exceptional natural materials and an industrial vision focused on quality. This founding heritage is still intact today.
Constant Drouault, the labourer who became a builder
In 1873, a 13-year-old boy walked through the doors of the factory: Constant Drouault. Curious and hard-working, he learned the trade, observed the techniques and understood the material. Year after year, he rose through the ranks to become the true architect of the company’s development.
Under his leadership, the company modernised, expanded and established a lasting presence in Le Mans. In 1907, a new factory was inaugurated at 84 Rue Constant-Drouault, an iconic address that remains the heart of the brand to this day.
His legacy goes beyond his name: it is a philosophy, one of work well done, the right approach and uncompromising quality.
The 20th century: the art of French comfort
When Constant passed away in the 1920s, the company was taken over by his widow and their son Robert under the name Veuve Drouault et fils. Family continuity became a cornerstone of the House’s identity.
A turning point is reached: Drouault is no longer content with just preparing the feathers; she now designs pillows and duvets for Parisian department stores. Comfort becomes an art form in its own right.
The following decades saw the emergence of high-end collections, the adoption of innovative assembly techniques and the arrival of new generations. In the 1950s and 1960s, Drouault designed authentic “haute couture” sleepwear collections, created for ever more refined comfort.
In the 1990s, the company innovated once again with the introduction of anti-mite treatments on upholstery and fabrics, responding to health, hygiene and allergy concerns.
A new dynamic: integration into the Dodo Group
In 2004, Drouault joined the Dodo group (now Home Heritage). The Manufacture changed scale while retaining its identity. A new 2,000 m² workshop was created, incorporating the latest technologies for processing feathers and down, and an eco-responsible charter was adopted.
The essential remains: all duvets, pillows and mattress toppers are made in France, mostly by hand, in workshops in Le Mans.
It was in this context that one of the company’s iconic products was launched: the Surconfort® mattress, which has become a benchmark for high-end bedding.
2019: the Living Heritage Company label
In 2019, Manufacture Drouault was awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) label. This is official recognition of its outstanding craftsmanship and industrial expertise, the quality of its French manufacturing and the expertise of its master duvet makers and seamstresses.
This label recognises 175 years of heritage, a living, sustainable and valuable industrial legacy, cultivated generation after generation.
This label recognises 175 years of heritage, a living, sustainable and valuable industrial legacy, cultivated generation after generation.
2025: 175 years old and still looking towards the future
Today, Manufacture des rêves® continues to combine tradition and innovation to imagine the sleep of tomorrow:
1. exceptional natural
fillings 2. handcrafted assemblies
3. the integration of more responsible materials
4. the development of products dedicated to the high-end hotel industry
5. 100% French production
Drouault is not just a brand of bedding. It is a legacy and expertise that we cultivate with passion to offer unique comfort.
A living legacy
Now celebrating its 175th anniversary, Drouault is continuing a dual tradition: that of a recognised and preserved French industrial heritage, and that of a company resolutely focused on the future.
Sleep is an art. Drouault is one of its masters.
Never again a night without dreams®
