The PERRIN Hosiery Factory, a Living Heritage Company

The Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) label is a mark of recognition from the State, set up to distinguish French companies with excellent artisanal and industrial know-how.

Awarded for a period of five years, this label brings together manufacturers committed to the high performance of their profession and their products.

Created by the law in favor of SMEs of August 2 PERRIN leaflet Visit 02-17 web 2005 (article 23) , the Living Heritage Company label can "be awarded to any company that holds an economic heritage, composed in particular of rare, renowned or ancestral know-how, based on the mastery of traditional or high-tech techniques and limited to a territory". It was set up in May 2006.

This label is awarded by Mr. Bruno Le Maire , Minister of the Economy.

A careful selection to identify talents

The procedure for awarding the EPV label is conducted by experts. The assessment and interpretation of these award criteria are entrusted to an independent National Commission made up of professionals who work to promote practices that guarantee excellence within their own activity. The Institut Supérieur des Métiers (ISM) is responsible for providing the secretariat for this National Commission of Living Heritage Companies and for processing applications for awarding the label.

Examination of the application file by the ISM, request for advice from regional government services and competent consular establishments, drafting of an instruction report, company visits by industry experts, examination by the National Commission and final decision by the ministers: the selection process for Living Heritage Companies is a guarantee of their excellence.

A label that supports excellent know-how

This mark of recognition from the State is also operational support for the development of the companies concerned.

It aims to:

- facilitate their media coverage on a national and international scale;
- create and seize international business opportunities;
- encourage them to innovate;
- strengthen their growth, ensure the development of employment and promote their transmission.