Stop 1: Trekhgornaya
Welcome to our first stop, Trekhgornaya!
We are in the Presnya district. This is perhaps the site with the greatest significance in Moscow’s history. Fun fact: in a list of major companies in Moscow, Trekhgornaya is the only of our five sites that appears (RUSSIA. Major Companies in Moscow City. Volume 1).
Trekhgornaya is an old textile factory that has survived nationalization, then privatization, and the influx of capitalism. The history of the site begins in 1799, when two merchants started a textile factory. They began to teach their own artisans and workers the art of cotton-printing and eventually expanded to have workshops and chemical labs for paint prep, decorative acetic, and the storage of goods/materials. The products featured the work of Russian painters, ornaments of Bukhara, Persian, and Byzantine art.
The first factory opened in 1820. The French invasion later ruined the buildings though they were restored and production was restarted. Given the lack of competition, restoration of peace in Europe, and the easing of restrictions in trade policy, as well as the advent of steam engines, the factory experienced extreme growth and success. By 1860, the growth came to a standstill because of the internal affairs of the state as well as crop failures, liberation of peasants, and reduced foreign trade. After a brief recovery, a major fire in 1877 led to the redevelopment. In the 1900s, growth and expansion led to an increase in fuel demand and the owners actually acquired an estate in the south of Russia with coal deposits.
In 1905, the Uprisings began blocks away. Production halted temporarily because of the uprisings though the factories were not susceptible to plundering or other damage because management and employees had good relations. Throughout WWI, lots of production was allocated towards wartime needs though production stopped in 1919 because of the lack of fuel and raw materials.
In 1919, the plant was nationalized and renamed to the Krasnopresnenskuju Trekhgornij factory. A trade school was opened on site and by 1926, there were 6,600 workers at the plant once again, producing military textiles as well as for citizens’ consumption (Merridale 15). In this era, the Moscow province was producing more than 50% of all clothing products in the USSR (Merridale 15). By 1928, they had returned to pre-war production and employee levels. At its peak, the plant produced 16-17,000 pieces of fabric per day.
What is most fascinating is that in the 1930s, “most of Moscow’s industrial workers were employed in the textile and clothing industries” (Merridale 15). Moscow’s industry was heavily driven by textiles and most of the textiles production was at Trekhgornaya. In 1944, the factory actually received the Order of Red Banner of Labor. Production results included Lenin portraits, red fabric, souvenir panels, bookmarks, and posters.
By 1980, the factory underwent further reconstruction to accommodate new graphics and updated technology, upping production to 200 million meters of fabric per year. In 1992, the factory was privatized once again, listed on stock market, and continues to produce textiles today.
Activities today entail primarily spinning, weaving, finishing, and sewing. Most operations have moved to Yaroslavl and production has dropped (Vorhees and Ragozin). Some of the vacant spaces have been left unattended, as depicted below, while others have been repurposed beginning in 2015. The site features a design centre and its own store where Trekhgornaya clothing is sold. Some of the vacant spots have been repurposed into studios and showrooms most often occupied by interior designers.
Other vacant spots have been transformed into restaurants and nightclubs, with one most noteworthy club, Jagger. This spot is known in Moscow for being the affluent’s playground and most often featuring luxurious cars pulled up in front.
The approach that is taken here with respect to revitalizing old industrial spaces is fairly moderate, as there are still some operations on site. As you walk around and explore, keep an eye out for the different references to the core business of Trekhgornaya and their operations. The presence of the original business is something that is unique to Trekhgornaya and will not be found at our other sites.
