The Fairy Capelin

Émilie OLIVER of La Fée Capeline is a milliner and felt-maker in Tende.

Do you know what felt is? It's a wool transformation technique already known in prehistoric times. Using carded or combed wool, which she manually distributes, moistens and soaps for several hours, Émilie enables the wool fibers to amalgamate to create a non-woven textile known as "felt". Insulating, natural, breathable and hard-wearing, felt has innumerable qualities. In France, there are just a hundred or so felt-makers!

Émilie excels in making felt hats (exclusively from Roya Valley wool). If you come to Tende, you're sure to see some of the locals wearing her creations! And if you visit her boutique or her Facebook page, she'll show you her unique pieces: superb hats for men and women, but not only...

This supplier is a member of the Mercantour Écotourisme association, find out more here!