Heritage House: Au Ver à Soie
Founded in Paris in 1820, Au Ver à Soie (literally translating to "At the Sign of the Silkworm") is the undisputed world leader in fine silk yarns. Still operated today by the fifth generation of the Boucher family from their historic premises on Rue Réaumur, this legendary institution has spent over two centuries preserving the art of luxury textile manufacturing.
Their reputation for unmatched purity, tensile strength, and intrinsic brilliance is why they have long been the trusted choice for the world's premier haute couture houses—including Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Lacroix. It is also the very same silk used by Hermès for the exquisite hand-sewn finishing on their iconic leather goods and scarves.
For the heritage embroiderer, their threads are quite simply the gold standard of the textile world. Rather than a harsh, chemical shine, these pure silks possess a soft, luminous, aristocratic glow that brings historic motifs vividly to life.
The Master Silk Toolkit
When exploring their collections, these six flagship thread families form the foundation of our master material recommendations:
Soie d’Alger (Spun Silk): Don’t let the name fool you—this silk isn’t from Algeria! "Alger" refers to a highly specialized, historic manufacturing process. It is a magnificent 7-ply stranded thread that can be easily split apart. Because it is spun from premium silk fibers, it offers unrivaled regularity, softness, and a smooth glide through fabric. Boasting a breathtaking palette of over 620 colors, it is the ultimate universal thread for fine hand embroidery, historic samplers, and heirloom cross-stitch.
Soie Ovale (Flat Filament Silk): A flat, un-twisted pure filament silk thread. Because it has no twist, it spreads out beautifully across the surface of your ground fabric, creating a spectacular, glass-like reflection. It is highly sought after by modern artisans for luxury hand-shading, traditional flat stitching, and restoring antique textiles where a flawless, fluid sheen is paramount.
Soie de Paris (6-Ply Filament Silk): A magnificent, high-luster filament silk composed of 6 easily divisible plies. Unlike the softer matte finish of the spun Soie d'Alger, Soie de Paris is made from continuous silk filaments, giving it an intensely bright, polished appearance. It glides through fabrics like butter and is perfect for fine needlepoint, delicate satin stitch, and exquisite counted-thread work.
Soie Perlée (Twisted Filament Silk): A smooth, 3-ply twisted filament silk that is non-divisible. It is celebrated for its incredible brightness and excellent abrasion resistance. Because of its sturdy, twisted structure, it plays beautifully with light and is the absolute champion for crisp outlining, pulled-thread work, Hardanger accents, and making elegant custom cording or tassels.
Ruban de Soie (Pure Silk Ribbon): A luxurious, fluid silk ribbon woven with a crisp, stable edge to prevent fraying as it moves through fabric. Available in a stunning array of widths, this ribbon is the absolute pinnacle for historic French silk ribbon embroidery, heirloom floral stitching, and creating dimensional, tactile relief work that catches the light beautifully.
The Two Flagship Assortments
Depending on the heritage discipline you are focusing on, the discovery packs are generally curated into two main structural styles:
1. The Gobelins & Paris Pack (The Texture Master)
The Au Ver à Soie "Discovery Packs"
For those stepping into the world of luxury textiles for the first time, or looking to add deep, tactile dimension to a specific project, the Au Ver à Soie Discovery Packs (Packs Découvertes) are an absolute revelation.
Rather than purchasing entire boxes of single thread types, these curated collections are put together by color family palettes (such as Spring, Glazig, or Vintage). Each pack contains five entirely different thread textures and structures in perfectly harmonized shades.
It is essentially a master class in a box—allowing you to experiment with how different filament twists, weights, and braids catch the light side-by-side in your stitching without a massive upfront investment.
Designed for fine surface embroidery, miniature work, luxury needlepoint, and exquisite counted work. This assortment focuses heavily on high-luster filaments:
Soie d’Alger: The soft, universal 7-ply spun silk.
Soie Perlée: The intensely bright, tear-resistant 3-ply twisted filament.
Soie de Paris: The ultra-polished, smooth 6-ply filament silk.
Soie Gobelins: A highly twisted, stable 2-ply filament silk perfect for fine tapestry and crisp geometric line work.
Métallisé Tressé #4: A soft, highly resistant metallic braid that adds a seamless glint of gold, silver, or bronze without fraying.
2. The Surfine & Ribbon Pack (The Dimensional Master)
Perfect for those exploring tactile relief work, floral embroidery, and classic French ribbon arts. This pack leans into structure and physical depth:
Soie d’Alger: The foundation spun silk for baseline stitching.
Soie Perlée: For bright, structural outlines and textured knots.
4mm Pure Silk Ribbon: A fluid, woven ribbon with stable edges, dyed in matching skeins for perfect color harmony.
Soie Surfine: A highly delicate, 2-strand combed silk schappe blend with a moderate, understated brilliance—beautiful for fine machine or hand detailing.
Métallisé Tressé #4: The metallic braid accent to anchor your luxury finishes.
Finding a Stockist Near You
Because Au Ver à Soie is a globally revered heritage brand, their threads are distributed through a highly selective network of premium needlework shops.
Recommended International Distributors
If you are ordering from outside of France, these major stockists carry extensive ranges of the Au Ver à Soie catalog online and ship internationally:
United Kingdom: Look for major heritage embroidery suppliers or direct embroidery schools (such as the RSN shop network).
United States / Canada: Distributed widely through specialist needlepoint, cross-stitch, and historical costuming ateliers.
Europe & Online: Leading online stores like Historische Stickmuster, Perles & Co, Univers Broderie, and Atelier 196 offer massive colorways and prompt European shipping.
🌐 Need to find a local shop?
Au Ver à Soie maintains a fully updated, comprehensive directory of every authorized brick-and-mortar boutique, regional French mercerie, and certified online retailer worldwide (see individual tabs in “International Stockist” section).