By obtaining the “Living Heritage Company” (EPV) label for its natural gut tennis strings, Babolat has been recognized as one of the leading symbols of French excellence

Created in 2005, the French state label “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (EPV – Living Heritage Company) distinguishes French craft and industrial companies with rare and exceptional expertise. Babolat has just received it for its historic expertise in natural gut strings, invented by Babolat for tennis in 1875, its strong regional roots, and its respect for artisanal traditions. It is a national recognition with international reach, celebrating a French and family adventure.

A label that rewards not only present-day expertise, but more than 150 years of history. In 1875, Pierre Babolat crafted strings from natural gut for musical instruments and surgical ligatures. Already recognized for his ingenuity as a manufacturer, he was approached by the Englishman Bussey, a pioneer of the tennis racquet, to create natural gut strings long enough to fit his frames. The famous French “Musketeers” of tennis (Lacoste, Borotra, Cochet, Brugnon), as well as many more contemporary champions (Björn Borg, Pete Sampras, Kim Clijsters…) later benefited from the famous gut string known as “VS.” Today, Babolat, now a leader in its field, remains a family-owned company committed to excellence, craftsmanship, and French production. This journey, respect for tradition, and culture of high performance have now earned it the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (EPV) label.

This label recognizes Babolat’s expertise and know-how since 1875.

With this EPV label, Babolat joins a select circle of companies possessing exceptional expertise (Hermès Sellier, Baccarat, Cristel, J.M. Weston…), all deeply rooted in their regions and contributing to progress by developing the knowledge and treasures of tomorrow. This certification is especially meaningful for Éric Babolat, president of the group bearing his name: “This EPV label is a national and international recognition of our expertise in natural gut strings. It is also a way of highlighting our teams, the brand, and a true artisanal skill that has been cultivated throughout this long history with tennis and players across generations and through the progress that has accompanied the sport. Babolat has never distanced itself from its history, from its very artisanal beginnings. We are now in the fifth generation. I am immensely proud of Pierre, my great-great-grandfather, who started this adventure. The reference to the family business is constant. It is one of the brand’s strengths. 1875 is not simply a company founding date; it is a constant reminder of the essence of Babolat and its tradition.”

Craftsmanship still at the heart of production at Babolat

As the inventor of natural gut strings, Babolat remains the undisputed leader in the field. Several players, including Australian Jordan Thompson (world No. 26 in 2024) and China’s Xinyu Wang (world No. 33), still play with gut strings (hybrid setups). The VS natural gut string possesses exceptional characteristics and, thanks to its elasticity, delivers unmatched power, comfort, and tension maintenance. In the global tennis string market, which now also includes synthetic strings (processed without chemical solvents at Babolat in order to comply with environmental standards and protect employees), the brand is also No. 1 in France and the United States, the world’s largest market.

Yet the manufacturing process has not changed much, explains Éric Babolat: “At our factory in Ploërmel (Brittany), launched in 1979, we still produce natural gut strings using gut collected from slaughterhouses in the region. And at every stage of manufacturing, except for rectification (adjusting the exact size of the string to suit play), there is a strong artisanal and manual component. Today, this process is unique in the world of racquet sports. This artisanal dimension is truly Babolat’s trademark.”

This philosophy has also been adopted for padel. At the Babolat Padel Studio, inaugurated in 2023 near Barcelona (Sant Fruitós de Bages), Babolat manufactures racquets with numerous manual production stages. This responsible, tailor-made production is carried out in limited series. “And this flexibility is made possible by craftsmanship, which allows us to maintain a high level of standards and constant attention to the smallest detail in order to offer reliable, high-performance products adapted to players and their needs, both in padel and tennis,” explains Éric Babolat, while the brand serves as the official racquet service and stringing partner of Wimbledon.

A label under the high patronage of the President of France

For information, the EPV label (Entreprises du Patrimoine Vivant – Living Heritage Companies) falls under the authority of the French Ministry for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Commerce, Craftsmanship, Tourism, and Purchasing Power. The label is placed under the high patronage of the President of the Republic and brings together manufacturers committed to excellence in their craft and products. It is awarded by regional prefects for a five-year period. The French State grants the label for five years following a strict audit of expertise, employee training, production quality, and company reputation.