Rose Valois was the name of a

milliner Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter. Historically, milliners, typically women shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of g ...

y establishment in Paris founded in 1927 by Madame Fernand Cleuet,

Vera Leigh Vera Leigh (17 March 1903 – 6 July 1944) was an agent of the United Kingdom's clandestine Special Operations Executive during World War II. Leigh was a member of the SOE's Donkeyman circuit and Inventor sub-circuit in occupied France until ...

, and one other. It closed in 1970. During its time, it was considered one of the leading milliners of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The founders of Rose Valois had all worked with

Caroline Reboux Caroline Reboux (circa 1840–1927) was a Parisian milliner and French fashion designer. She opened her first boutique at 23 rue de la paix in Paris in 1865, which she continued to operate throughout her life. Reboux opened other shops in P ...

, leaving in 1927 to found their own salon. Rose was Mme Cleuet's first name, and Valois was a construct made up from the initials of Vera Leigh and the other (as yet unidentified) woman. Leigh left Rose Valois in 1940, which remained in business through the occupation of France by enemy German forces during World War II, despite Leigh's later involvement as a member of the

French Resistance The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...

, leading to her arrest and execution by the Germans in 1944. Rose's husband, Fernand Cleuet (d. June 1961) was chief executive officer of the establishment.

Simone Mirman Simone Mirman (1912–2008) was a Paris-born milliner based in London, chiefly known for her designs for the British royal family. Early life Simone Parmentier was born in Paris on 18 May 1912 to middle-class Catholic parents. Simone had an ap ...

, who later found fame as one of London's foremost milliners in the 1940s-1960s, served her

apprenticeship Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a Tradesman, trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners ...

with Valois.

References

Hat companies Clothing companies of France Manufacturing companies based in Paris Clothing companies established in 1927 Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1970 1927 establishments in France 1970 disestablishments in France {{France-company-stub