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FEDORA Ambassador Series: In Conversation with Eloïse Gilles, Co-Founder of Duvelleroy i
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FEDORA Ambassadors Series: In Conversation with Eloïse Gilles, Co-Founder of Duvelleroy
FEDORA Ambassadors Series
Founded in Paris in 1827, Duvelleroy has long embodied the elegance, craftsmanship and artistry of the hand fan. We had the pleasure to speak with Eloïse Gilles, at the head of this historic maison, entering a new chapter as a FEDORA Corporate Member.
From Heritage to Artistic Vision
Eloïse Gilles reflected on her journey from brand identity and entrepreneurship to reviving one of France’s most iconic fan-making houses. Drawn by a passion for craftsmanship and storytelling, she discovered in the hand fan not only an object of beauty, but a cultural language deeply connected to gesture, movement and performance.
“For me the common values are a quest for lightness.”
This idea of lightness, both physical and artistic, lies at the heart of Duvelleroy’s connection with FEDORA and the world of opera and dance. Historically, hand fans were inseparable from opera culture: in the 19th century, audiences would rarely attend a performance without one. Today, Eloïse Gilles envisions reintroducing hand fans both on and off stage, through collaborations with choreographers, dancers and opera houses across Europe.
Craftsmanship, Legacy & Contemporary Reinvention
The interview also explores the exceptional heritage behind Duvelleroy. Known for co-inventing the pleating mold technique that enabled the creation of exquisitely delicate couture fans, the maison developed fans crafted from organza, tulle, sequins and feathers. When Gilles and her partners rediscovered the archives of Duvelleroy, preserved intact for decades, they uncovered not only historical objects, but an entire creative universe waiting to be reinterpreted for today.
“Duvelleroy and FEDORA have a mission of preserving heritage but in a creative way.”
Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Artistic Creation
Beyond craftsmanship and artistic collaboration, the conversation highlights the essential role of philanthropy in sustaining creativity and enabling new artistic works to emerge. Eloïse Gilles reflects on how philanthropy creates the conditions for artists, institutions and creative talents to come together at the right moment to bring ambitious projects to life.
“I think philanthropy is key to support culture for creations that would maybe never have taken place or would take a lot more time to appear or evolve.”
For Eloïse Gilles, organisations such as FEDORA play a vital role in connecting the philanthropic world with artists and cultural institutions, helping innovative projects gain visibility, resources and momentum. She emphasises the importance of supporting artistic experimentation while preserving and reinterpreting heritage in contemporary ways.
“FEDORA is making a true difference by the prizes that have been set up and that enable creations to exist at a given moment and to give visibility, to create links between the philanthropic world and the artists and creations.”
Looking ahead to the 200th anniversary of Duvelleroy, Eloïse Gilles also expresses her desire to imagine future collaborations with artists, composers and choreographers through FEDORA’s network, projects that could create new bridges between heritage craftsmanship and contemporary creation thanks to the support of philanthropy.
Through this shared vision, FEDORA and Duvelleroy reaffirm the importance of philanthropy as a catalyst for artistic innovation, transmission and cultural creation across generations.
© Laurène Bouaziz i
Duvelleroy
Maison d’éventails parisienne fondée en 1827 et relancée en 2010, Duvelleroy prend la légèreté très au sérieux.
Nos éventails sont tous fabriqués à la main, en France et en Espagne.
Ils puisent leur inspiration dans deux siècles d’histoire, et trouvent leur sens dans l’air du temps.
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