The Story of Makeloo Studio: From Garage to Spinning Mill (2021-2026)
All major spinning mills started somewhere, often in much more modest conditions than they would one day become. Makeloo Studio is no exception: its story begins in 2021, in what could affectionately be called a "garage startup," with the first equipment acquired by Marcelo Ribeiro Martins to explore his growing passion for artisanal spinning.
This first year laid the groundwork for a rapidly evolving approach. The company was initially established as a general partnership (SENC), a simple legal structure, suitable for an still artisanal, small-scale activity. The following years were marked by constant development: building a network of partner farms, establishing the De par chez nous brand, and progressively acquiring increasingly specialized equipment — notably an industrial carding machine and a picker acquired at auction in 2023, for a fraction of their actual market value.
The year 2025 marked a decisive turning point, with record sales and the acquisition of a key piece of equipment: the Gill Box Ramella, the precision combing machine that would redefine the company's ambitions. It was in this same year that Makeloo Studio received its first major institutional recognition, confirming that the vision developed since 2021 resonated beyond the simple circle of textile artisans.
January 2026 marked the culmination of this journey: incorporation as a joint-stock company, and the move to the new premises in Lavaltrie, finally allowing the integration of the entire production chain — opening, carding, drawing, spinning, dyeing, and felting — under one roof. What had begun as an individual passion, practiced in a garage, had become a true industrial enterprise, capable of transforming wool on a scale that directly benefits an entire network of Lanaudière farms.
For those of you who have been following Makeloo Studio for a while, or who are just discovering our journey today, this story is not just a charming anecdote: it illustrates an important truth about textile craftsmanship in Quebec. Major structural transformations — such as the complete integration of a local production chain — are not built overnight. They require years of practice, learning, and progressive investment, much like the patience required by spinning itself.
Source: Makeloo Studio Laine Québec Inc. Business Plan (2026).