From Albert Aftalion's works, it is widely believed that the supposed individualism of family-owned companies and the wide variety of products hindered the emergence of cartels in the French textile industry. In most areas, they were considered poorly organized, short-lived and powerless, with the aim of preserving competitive conditions. These statements overlook the established trend in the North for family groups to cooperate as exemplified by the Wool Combers’ Union. Recreated in 1881 as a “mutual help association” between the wool combers of the North of France, it turned into a joint-venture company in 1895, reduced to just the Roubaix-Croix-Tourcoing region. Inflation, the Union’s growing administrative complexity and increasing versatility motivated the growing push for solidarity among its members. Its supposed legitimate purpose of restoring “fair competition” and protecting competitors was just an alibi for its double role of concentrating the wool combing industry. On one hand, it organized the destruction of mills, including mills belonging to some of its members, and, on the other hand, it was nothing but a fool's game that benefited its most powerful members.