New Hat Exhibition Opening May 22 Chazelle-sur-Lyon, France
Ribbons have been given the place of honour in France this year! Two exhibitions dedicated to ribbons will be running consecutively in the French Loire region this summer. 
The first exhibition will be held at La Chappellerie Atelier-Musee du Chapeau, the Hat Workshop-Museum in Chazelles-sur-Lyon, who made ribbon the theme of their 11th annual International Hat Art Competition earlier this year. Creators were invited to use all of their know-how and creativity to distort all kinds of ribbons and incorporate them into hats. 121 original hats were received from 17 different countries in Europe, Japan, Australia, United States, Turkey. On March 25, 11 creations were awarded by a professional judging panel overseen by internationally renowned milliner Stephen Jones.
92 of the hats created for this competition will be on display at the Hat Museum from May 22 to October 2, 2016. The exhibition is being designed by Marion Lyonnais, who plans to stage the hats in a funfair-like atmosphere. Choreographed fashion shows featuring some of the competition hats will take place throughout the day on Sunday, May 22 to celebrate the opening of the exhibition and the public are invited to attend.
The second French ribbon themed exhibition will be held at the Art and Industry Museum of Saint-Etienne and will feature a retrospective on ribbon work in Saint-Etienne from the 18th century until now.
This exhibition will open on June 2, 2016 and is set to run until January 2, 2017.