Paraffection
Paraffection S.A. is a subsidiary of Chanel, established in 1985 to preserve and promote the heritage, craft and manufacturing skills of fashion artisan workshops. The specialist workshops continue to be independent and are therefore free to supply and collaborate with other houses. Dominique Barbiery was appointed Director of Paraffection in 2009.
In 1985 Chanel acquired the costume jewellery and button maker Desrues, and later the ateliers of Michel and Lemarié. Paraffection launched in 2002 with the acquisition of embroidery house Lesage and shoemaker Massaro. The establishment of the Métiers d’Arts collections showcases the work of the seven ateliers which made up Paraffection at that time and had collaborated with Chanel for decades.
As of 2015, Paraffection has acquired twelve Ateliers d’Art or workshops:
- Desrues – ornamentation and buttons
- Michel – milliner
- Lemarié – feathers and camellias
- Lesage – embroidery
- Massaro – shoemaker
- Goossens – gold and silversmith
- Guillet – maker of fabric flowers
- Montex – embroidery
- Causse – glovemaker
- Barrie – a Scottish knitwear manufacturer
- Les Ateliers Lognon – pleater
- Lanel – embroidery