JJ Hat Center has opened its first European store, on boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, extending its physical presence beyond the United States for the first time. In October 2025, the house thus opened a new chapter in its history.
Founded in 1911, JJ Hat Center has been an integral part of New York's hat culture ever since, and presents itself as New York's oldest hatmaker. The house has more than 115 years of hatmaking history.
The new address is located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a district described as one of the most historic and style-defining in the French capital. It brings together the brand's New York roots and Parisian fashion culture. JJ Hat Center offers hats and caps there from brands such as JJ Hats, Borsalino and Stetson.
With this opening, JJ Hat Center now operates two physical stores, while continuing to develop its online presence internationally to reach an audience beyond these points of sale. The house has also benefited from notable media exposure: Meryl Streep wears a JJ Hats hat in the series Only Murders in the Building, and publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and GQ have devoted articles to it.
For Jérôme Louis, CEO of JJ Hat Center, the house's future lies in sharing a passion for exceptional hatmaking and awakening new generations to the diversity of this fashion. « Our vision is to keep the art of hatmaking alive while showing just how versatile, modern, and expressive a hat can be today », the executive explains.
