Validate
Cookies
By clicking on validate, you accept the use of your personal data as specified in the site pages legal notice

The story of Fléchet start in France more than 150 years ago

Chazelles - The Fléchet factory in 1935

1859 : Beginnings
in Chazelles

It was about 1850 that Gabriel Fléchet left his native village of Larajasse to come and look for work in Chazelles. In 1859, when Gabriel started making felt hats made of rabbit hair, he probably did not imagine that his name would become, a century later, the only French historic brand of headwear.
Read more

Chronology

1902

Benoît Fléchet, son of Gabriel, takes the helm of the millinery factory. The Fléchet hats are very successful and to cope with the demand, the activity must be developed. The millinery factory built in 1902 employs 350 workers in 1912.

1927

From 1927, Max Fléchet, son of Benoît, runs the company which is still growing. With his brother Georges, his cousin René and his children, he flourishes the reputation of Fléchet hats to the point that they are exported to all 5 continents.

1930

600 employees are employed to make high-end hats, made with rabbit hair felt, hare and Garenne rabbit. A showroom is installed in 1931.

1976

Production stops in Chazelles sur Lyon. The factory Fléchet almost knew a fatal fate but was launched the idea of creating a cultural place that knows today a great success: « The Workshop Hat Museum ».

1983

In 1983, Saint Jacques, aware of being a heir to a tradition, became the designer of the Fléchet brand’s collections and distributor, developing a much more complete range of headwear.

At the zenith of its prosperity, Fléchet hats company employs up to 600 employees in its factory in Chazelles-sur-Lyon
© The Workshop Hat Museum

Visit : The workshop
hat museum

Based in Chazelles-sur-Lyon, the historic capital of the rabbit fur felt hat, Atelier-Musée du chapeau opened in 1983. Its creation followed the era of decline of the multisecular local industry. The French houses Morreton and Fléchet have made their reputation on the national and international level.
Visit website

The present

2020 : Fléchet
on the rise

FLÉCHET has been known for modern and creative collections in retro-chic style, self-assured French manufacturing know-how and a desire to offer the finest materials. These same values will now cement it as the must-have global brand of the coming decade, breathing new life into the slogan, “Chapeaux Fléchet, Chapeaux parfaits”.

 View collections

The story of Fléchet start in France more than 150 years ago

1859 : Beginnings
in Chazelles

It was about 1850 that Gabriel Fléchet left his native village of Larajasse to come and look for work in Chazelles. In 1859, when Gabriel started making felt hats made of rabbit hair, he probably did not imagine that his name would become, a century later, the only French historic brand of headwear.
Read more

1902

Benoît Fléchet, son of Gabriel, takes the helm of the millinery factory. The Fléchet hats are very successful and to cope with the demand, the activity must be developed. The millinery factory built in 1902 employs 350 workers in 1912.

1927

From 1927, Max Fléchet, son of Benoît, runs the company which is still growing. With his brother Georges, his cousin René and his children, he flourishes the reputation of Fléchet hats to the point that they are exported to all 5 continents.

1930

600 employees are employed to make high-end hats, made with rabbit hair felt, hare and Garenne rabbit. A showroom is installed in 1931.

1976

Production stops in Chazelles sur Lyon. The factory Fléchet almost knew a fatal fate but was launched the idea of creating a cultural place that knows today a great success: « The Workshop Hat Museum ».

1983

In 1983, Saint Jacques, aware of being a heir to a tradition, became the designer of the Fléchet brand’s collections and distributor, developing a much more complete range of headwear.

Visit : The workshop
hat museum

Based in Chazelles-sur-Lyon, the historic capital of the rabbit fur felt hat, Atelier-Musée du chapeau opened in 1983. Its creation followed the era of decline of the multisecular local industry. The French houses Morreton and Fléchet have made their reputation on the national and international level.
Visit website

2020 : Fléchet
on the rise

FLÉCHET has been known for modern and creative collections in retro-chic style, self-assured French manufacturing know-how and a desire to offer the finest materials. These same values will now cement it as the must-have global brand of the coming decade, breathing new life into the slogan, “Chapeaux Fléchet, Chapeaux parfaits”.

 View collections