Born in Toulon in 1966, it is at a very early age that Michel Heurtault started being fascinated by umbrellas and has, since then, tried to grasp their magic and their secrets. Later on, this early passion met his destiny.

At the age of 20, he settled in Paris and started learning the techniques of hand-sewn tailoring in a suit shop. In 1998, he created Art’scène, an establishment which designed, created and rented costumes going from the Renaissance to the 1930s.

The reputation that he gained, enabled him to meet Bettina Graziani, Michel de Grèce and Hubert de Givenchy who became his best ambassadors.

 

In 2004 renowned as a  high quality corset maker, he got many contracts with  John Galiano, Dior and Givenchy. Meanwhile he created luxury sunshades for Hermes.

In 2005, at Yves Saint Laurent’s request, he created an exceptional sunshade which is exhibited today at the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent foundation. Following this commission in 2008, his plan to open the Heurtault Parasolerie came to reality.

 

Keen on silk and the finest fabrics,  with his green and eco-friendly attitude (let’s not forget that 12 million non-recyclable manufactured umbrellas are thrown away every year), he gives full priority to biodegradable products.

As  a master craftsman  and an expert, he restores, recreates or creates sunshades and umbrellas from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. According to his needs, he calls the most renowned wood turners for custom-built handles. He owns a unique collection of umbrellas, designs Haute Couture models of all styles and all times which he sometimes rents for historical movies or theatre plays.

I let you discover this enthusiastic, exacting person who is also a perfectionist . His pleasure is to create exceptional and exclusive objects and his aim is to make these ancestral techniques perpetual to pass them on to the future generations.

Have a lovely month with  umbrella or sunshade !

Mademoiselle Viviane-Lucie

http://www.parasolerieheurtault.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten questions from Lovely Surprise™:

1. What were the upbeats of your career?

After working for leading trade marks, I decided to set up a company called Art’ scene which  created and rented historical costumes. It was a very successful adventure which soon became a reference in the subject and made me realise how much I wanted to get into business.

The second step was the decision to sell this company and this is how, in 2008, I managed to create the company I had always been dreaming of : an umbrella store where I could fully express myself  as a businessman and creator of objects that had always fascinated me : umbrellas, sunshades and parasols…

2.What are your sources of inspiration?

The blue colour of the lavender fields in Provence, the cicada songs and the sun. The characters in Proust’s novels.

3. You feel close to…

I feel close to unusual people but also to the people who appreciate with no superficiality the story and quality of things. I feel very close to nature in general which is for me a source of inspiration. I mainly base my creative work on the use of natural materials which are of boundless richness.

4. Your favourite works of art

The complete Rougon Maquart collection by Zola. And in painting, Caillebotte.

5. A magic place for you

A blue cove bathed with the Mediterranean sun in my native south.

6. Your favourite moment in the day

The morning is what I like best because there is a brand new day of creation head of me.

7. A sentence or an expression that moves you

There are only those who never try things that never break things.

In my job, I always try things, test things which means that sometimes I have to break things to get a perfect final result.

8. You have a soft spot for…

Chocolate, it’s a tonic which feeds your body and soul.

9. Do you collect something?

I have always collected umbrellas and sunshades. Thanks to my collection, I managed to improve my knowledge and my savoir-faire. It has enabled me to create all sorts of pieces with all sorts of shapes.

10. What are your plans for the future?

I would like to hire apprentices and collaboraters very soon so that I can pass my technical know-how and my experience. It is the only way to make this craft and its complex technics last.

In what way do you find Lovely Surprise™  inspiring?

For me, Lovely surprise is the ideal link to imagine and create unique objects which will surprise, astonish and enchant the ones who will get them.