Thuillier Paris
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion, luxury apparel |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | Robert Thuillier |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Shirts, ties |
Thuillier Paris, initially known as Thuillier Chemisier, is a distinguished French fashion label established in 1930 by the expert shirtmaker Robert Thuillier. Recognized as the "shirtmaker of Presidents" due to its service at the Élysée Palace, the brand thrived over two generations before pausing operations for 13 years. It was revitalized by family descendants in 2011.
Robert Thuillier
Robert Thuillier, born in Paris in 1894, was introduced to the art of shirtmaking early on through his mother’s work with Parisian couturiers. Under the guidance of a master shirtmaker, he honed his skills in shirt design and began his career as a cutter at the luxury firm Amos Sulka & Company prior to World War I. After the war, he advanced to lead the cutting department and mentored numerous future experts.
In 1930, Thuillier departed from Amos Sulka & Company to found Thuillier Chemisier, launching his inaugural boutique on rue de Marignan in Paris’s 8th arrondissement—a prime location attracting an elite clientele. Supported by his wife Gabrielle and sons Jacques, René, and André, the family managed their workshop situated behind the shop. Following receipt of his "chemisier créateur" certification in 1938, he moved the boutique to a more discreet address at 21 rue Galilée.
The post-World War II period brought challenges that led to workforce reductions during the 1950s; his sons subsequently found positions with Korrigan and later Lacoste. From the early 1960s until Robert Thuillier’s passing in 1969, André took charge of the enterprise.
Rue Marbeuf
In the early 1960s, André Thuillier and his brothers revitalized the fashion house by inaugurating a boutique at 9 rue Marbeuf, located in a prestigious area of Paris’s 8th arrondissement famously known as the "street of the shirtmakers."
Amidst the economic growth of the Trente Glorieuses, Thuillier’s workshop operated at full capacity. To fulfill increasing orders, shirt assembly was delegated to a facility in Palluau-sur-Indre, while cutting and pattern-making continued at their rue Marbeuf workshop.
The shirtmaker to presidents
When Valéry Giscard d'Estaing assumed the French presidency in 1974, he selected André Thuillier as his personal shirtmaker. His successor, François Mitterrand, remained a loyal client throughout two terms, commissioning over 195 traditional shirts alongside 30 nightshirts and 30 dress shirts—many of which were later auctioned to honor Mitterrand’s legacy.
In 1996, newly elected President Jacques Chirac gifted South African President Nelson Mandela a custom-made Thuillier shirt as a symbol of diplomatic goodwill.
Outfitting three French presidents solidified Thuillier’s standing as "the shirtmaker of Presidents," enhancing its prestige within luxury menswear and political spheres.
Revival of the Thuillier label
The Thuillier family retired from shirtmaking in 1998, ceasing production. More than ten years later, Didier Thuillier—son of René and Huguette Thuillier—reestablished the brand by registering the "Thuillier Chemisier" trademark in 2011, inspired by his late mother’s regret over the original closure.
In 2014, Didier joined forces with his son Franck and entrepreneur Chadi Srour to relaunch operations under the Thuillier Paris name. They preserved partnerships with long-standing suppliers based in Palluau-sur-Indre for shirts and maintained artisanal tie production in Paris.
By 2017, Thuillier Paris ventured into international markets for the first time. Notably, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official U.S. visit in 2018, he donned Thuillier Paris shirts and ties—including an intricately crafted cotton poplin plastron shirt that required eleven hours to produce—for a White House gala event.