Mains d'avenir — The artisan's path: Florence, milliner at Maison Michel

Through a series of portraits and stories, the series "Mains d'avenir, the artisan’s path" showcases the career path, passions, and ideas of those who "make" French craftsmanship. Today, we head to the Maison Michel workshop to meet Florence, a milliner for the hat-maker established in 1936.

For Florence, this path was not predetermined. "When I left secondary school, I knew I wanted to work in fashion. But I didn't know exactly in which field."

In the end, it was her mother who pointed her to her future profession: milliner. It was almost a genetic choice, as it was the same profession her great-grandmother had chosen. "You could say that it came naturally."

After training at the Lycée Fortuny in Paris's 17th arrondissement—one of the few schools to offer a millinery programme at the time—Florence joined Maison Michel, a world leader in hat-making and now a resident Maison d'art at le19M. Three decades later, she is still with the workshop. "I joined Maison Michel 34 years ago. I've never left the workshop since."

Her very first professional memory remains etched in her mind: her first hat, made for Christian Lacroix. "I was a fan—and still am—a fan of Christian Lacroix. It was an incredible opportunity to start with that project," she says.

The model? A brown hat with a floral diamond pattern. "I'll never forget that moment."

Every day, Florence works with precious and exacting materials on wooden forms: "My hands are my primary tools. Then, of course, there are the scissors, needles, the sewing machine..." However, leather remains her favourite material. "We use very supple leathers, such as dipped lambskin. I like this material because it allows you to do many things: you can drape it, stretch it, almost sculpt it. But it's a fragile material, a hole or a scratch is unforgiving," she explains.

The millinery profession involves several techniques. These include stretching fabric over forms or, conversely, cutting and sewing (to create soft or structured hats from fabric), and making turbans and head accessories.

In a world where hats are no longer an essential accessory, Florence naturally wonders about the future of her trade: "You can't do without a pair of shoes. Or a handbag. But you can do without a hat." However, she remains hopeful and is closely observing how customs are changing: "Fortunately, there are other types of headwear that appeal to younger generations, such as caps. There's more than just boater hats!"

For her, the challenge is also to make this profession more attractive, especially to the younger generation: "I hope that in the future, there will still be milliners. It is one of the oldest professions in the world." She is committed to passing on her savoir-faire, just as it was passed on to her when she started out. Florence trained at school, but above all in the workshop, alongside experts in the field.

More than just a profession, hat-making is a living heritage. In the Maison Michel workshop, Florence perpetuates these timeless techniques every day, combining meticulous sewing and draping. It is a way of keeping a discreet but essential art alive, whether it be a hat on your head or a cap pulled down over your ears.