Maison Michel Celebrates 90 Years of Hat-Making Excellence at Le 19M

Founded in 1936 by Auguste Michel, Maison Michel has survived the decline of hat-wearing by pivoting to haute couture. Acquired by Chanel in 1997, it joined the Maisons d'art and moved to Le 19M in 2021. The house retains over 3,000 molds and integrates the entire production chain, from sculpting wooden blocks to finishing hats. Artistic director Priscilla Royer, who trained at Vivienne Westwood in London and in Paris, leads the creative direction. The atelier uses felt (heated to 150°C) and straw sourced from Ecuador, Asia, and the Indian Ocean, with straw requiring 18 months lead time. Le 19M provides a collaborative environment where artisans from different disciplines interact. The house holds the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label and is already working on summer 2027 collections.