In 1929, John Matouk founded a company whose mission was to give Americans ready access to the world’s most luxurious linens. Mr. Matouk, who was born in Damascus the son of a fine jeweler, understood the principles of meticulous workmanship and good taste. As a young man he immigrated to Italy where he learned the fine linens business, gaining particular expertise in the intricate lace and hand-work that were very much part of the tradition there. He began exporting Italian linens to the United States and he developed a partnership with the outstanding Olga Asta linen and embroidery house located in St. Marks Square in Venice.
In July 1929, he fulfilled his life-long dream to go to the United States. He brought with him trunks of exquisite fabrics and cloths that he sold to the finest stores and elite families. Even in those difficult times there were those who had a passion for fine things and the means to afford them.
During World War II, with his supply lines from Europe cut off, Mr. Matouk moved his production to the U.S. He located his factory and offices in Manhattan. When linen became scarce during wartime, he pioneered a special blended fabric of mohair, rayon and cotton. This became Matouk's first signature tablecloth and it sold thousands of units.
第二次世界大戦中に欧州からのリンネルの供給が途絶えた時、Matouk氏は生産ラインを米国へシフトした。マンハッタンに工場とオフィスを構えたのだった。戦時中にリンネルが不足した際、モヘア、レーヨン、コットンを特殊な方法で合成して作る繊維の先駆者となった。これはMatouk氏の手による最初のテーブルクロスとして結実し、かなりの売れ行きを実現した。
第二次世界大戦の最中にはヨーロッパからの仕入れラインが断たれてしまったので、Matouk氏は合衆国に生産過程を移すことにし、工場やオフィスをマンハッタンに置いた。戦時中にリネンが品薄となると、彼はモヘヤ、レイヨンおよびコットンから特別な混合編地を開発した。この編地はMatoukの最初のシグネチャーテーブルクロスとなり、売り上げは何千セットにも上ることになった。
In 1963, John's son George F. Matouk joined the business and became president three years later after his father's death. During his 36 years leading the company, George Sr. grew Matouk from a maker of fine table linens and a limited selection of embroidered sheets to a full-service home textile source for the best retailers in the country, with a broad spectrum of linens for the table, bed and bath, featuring custom sizing, embroideries and monogramming. In 1985, George Sr., moved the factory to southern New England, home to both a tradition of American textile production and a community of skilled craftspeople.
The Matouk factory and headquarters are now located in Fall River, Massachusetts in a state of the art building featuring a solar energy system that produces over 35% of the electricity required to operate Matouk. We continue to bring the best quality linens to the market by using both old world techniques and state of the art tools, and by sourcing the finest materials from around the world.
Over the past eighty years, the Matouk name has become synonymous with John Matouk’s uncompromising values: insistence on the highest quality and a passion for luxury. Today John Matouk’s grandson, George Matouk Jr., represents the company’s third generation of family stewardship.
過去80年間かけて、Matouk社の名はJohn Matoukの確固たる価値観―つまり、最上の品質へのこだわりと贅沢への情熱―と同義のものとして知られてきました。そして今日、John Matoukの孫であるGeorge Matouk Jr.がMatouk社の家族経営の三代目を担っているのです。
過去80年以上を経て、Matoukの名前はJohn Matoukの妥協することのない価値と同じものになった。それは最高級品質へのこだわりと贅沢さへの情熱である。今ではJohn Matoukの曾孫であるGeorge Matouk Jr.が家族経営の第三世代として会社を代表している。
