"You could never call him mainstream."

East Gippsland Art Gallery is thrilled to be exhibiting a retrospective of Paris Kyne's work. Born Micheal Francis Kyne, he spent his early years in Sale, Victoria. In 1999, he changed his name to Paris and in 2000 he launched ‘Paris Kyne - The Master Milliner’ in Toorak Village. He was one Australia’s most flamboyant and talented milliners. In 2013, the year of his untimely death at only 47, he celebrated 25 years in the industry.

The world of Paris Kyne, Master Milliner was a land of colour, quality, style and imagination. He created big, striking, memorable hats, delicate headware and fabulous top hats, often seen at racecourses around the world. Paris was a regular at the Melbourne spring racing carnival and over the years, his clients won countless Fashions on the Field competitions.

Career highlights include joining a who’s who of Australia’s designers and fashion industry elite to be inducted into Stonington’s Fashion Hall of Fame; making the Moomba crowns for 2010 king and queen, Molly Meldrum and Kate Ceberano; and creating hats for Paris and Nicky Hilton to wear to the 2003 Melbourne Cup Carnival.