Hat museum, Hat museum in Chazelles-sur-Lyon, France.
This museum in Chazelles-sur-Lyon displays about 400 headpieces gathered from houses like Hermès, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, and Dior. The exhibition organizes these pieces to show different styles and periods in hat design across multiple rooms.
The town of Chazelles-sur-Lyon served as a major felt hat production center until 1975, with over 2,000 workers in its factories. This craft defined the local economy and made the region known for quality hat manufacturing.
The collection includes headpieces worn by notable figures like Grace Kelly and Marie Curie, linking fashion to personal identity. These pieces show how hats served as distinctive status symbols across different professions and social circles.
The museum is located on rue Martouret and opens Tuesday through Sunday in the afternoon. Guided tours demonstrate hat-making techniques and walk visitors through the different production steps.
The museum features working machinery that demonstrates the complete process of turning rabbit fur into luxury felt. Visitors can watch as these traditional machines process the material through each stage.
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