Our history
From fiber to needle
Provençal by nature
1882
Our story begins in Nyons, the French capital of olives, located in the heart of Provence’s Drôme region. The Fert family has established itself there as weavers. Firmly connected to the local culture, the artisanal business produces sheets and fabrics made from hemp, linen, and cotton.
New times, new needs
1900
In parallel, significant changes are taking place in the olive oil industry. Throughout the south of France, oil mills are gradually replacing the old screw presses with hydraulic presses, which are making their debut. The scourtins, traditional filters woven by hand for millennia around the Mediterranean and used during the extraction of olive oil, can no longer withstand the pressure and become obsolete.
Making the most of the game
1900
Ingenious and visionary, Ferdinand Fert sees in this large-scale technological change a commercial opportunity to seize.
In 1892, he invents and patents the very first machine for the mechanical weaving of filter cloths. An expert in textile materials, he replaces alfa and uses coconut fiber ropes for the first time, utilizing their rot-resistant properties: it’s a true revolution! Faster to produce and more durable, these next-generation filter cloths can now be used for multiple seasons.
Winter
1956
France experienced an exceptionally mild early winter, causing an early sap rise in local flora, before a Siberian cold snap paralyzed the country, which recorded some of the lowest temperatures in its recent history. The Seine and the Rhône froze over, and even the port of Marseille was gripped by ice. The olive trees of Provence literally shattered from the cold. It was a true disaster: in just one month, over four million olive trees were lost.
Artistic flair
1960
The olive oil industry was severely affected, and the company was on the verge of bankruptcy.
The Fert family tried to diversify their production. Observing the tendency of modest Provencal families to reuse used scourtins as doormats, Georges and Alain Fert decided to use their handcrafted machines to create genuine decorative carpets: Scourtin de Provence® was born. The creative company took its first step into the world of decoration and flourished once again.
The Indian adventure
2000
Over the years and through travels, La Scourtinerie builds much more than just a simple commercial exchange. Naturally curious and open to Keralite culture, the Fert family weaves strong bonds of friendship with their raw material supplier, fostering a relationship based on trust and fairness.
Furthermore, the local craftsmanship that each generation of the Fert family discovers on-site continues to inspire and enrich their creations.
The creation of the shade sails
2017
It was during one of his annual business trips to Kerala that Arnaud Fert imagined and created the very first shade sail made of coconut fiber.
After some studies and adjustments, La Scourtinerie launched in 2017 Les Ombrières de La Scourtinerie®: both practical and highly aesthetic, the success was immediate. The company even won the prestigious Côté Sud Salon award in 2019, recognizing the most beautiful innovation of the year.
Innovative and ambitious
2024
Experiencing remarkable success, La Scourtinerie logically establishes itself as the leader in the market for shade sails made from coconut fiber. The company is industrializing and significantly expanding its team.
In 2024, to support this expansion, the company separates administratively from its parent company and becomes Les Ombrières de Provence®. Firmly focused on its time and challenges, the company intends to continue exploring the creative potentials of its iconic raw material.
