OUR ROOTS STRETCH ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1770, WHEN THE ILLUSTRIOUS FRENCH PHILOSOPHER VOLTAIRE FOUNDED MANUFACTURE ROYALE. AS ONE OF THE LEADING FIGURES OF THE FRENCH ENLIGHTENMENT, VOLTAIRE INSTILLED A SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE IN THE HEARTS OF MANY, INCLUDING POLITICAL LEADERS AND THINKERS. SINCE THEN, MANUFACTURE ROYALE HAS FOLLOWED IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AND HAS LEARNED TO CULTIVATE VOLTAIRE’S FREE SPIRIT.