François I was very successful in this endeavor, and by the end of the 17th century, Lyon was considered the silk capital in Europe. The fabric was very popular with the nobles and kings of the time. There was even a law that said nobles must purchase new silk patterns twice a year!
Although the industry is not as popular as in the past, silk manufacturing still has a role in Lyonnais culture. Hermes, a well-known luxury brand, still produces silk scarves at a factory just outside of the city. Lyon is also famous for its bouchons (small, local restuarants that serve traditional specialties), which were originally places for silk workers to eat after a long, hard day's work. Many bouchons can be found in the neighboorhood of Vieux-Lyon (Old-Lyon) because the silk factories used to be situated there. Even though silk is not the city's main attraction anymore, it is an important part of Lyon's economic and cultural history.
