When a few weeks ago news broke of Belgian milliner Christophe Coppens shutting down his company as he struggled with the effects of the financial crisis, I must admit it completely came out of the blue for me. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Coppens in the past, and his passion and dedication was really inspiring, but sadly, that’s just not enough.
He was on the verge of opening another boutique, in Paris this time, celebrities and royals all over the planet were spotted wearing his creations and the recent collections looked amazing. But, as Coppens wrote in his touching goodbye letter, “It’s always been difficult, for 21 years, and difficult is fine. But the way it’s been the past few years is inhuman and impossible. You become someone you’re not.”
Now, in the aftermath of the closure, around 450 unique and exclusive items from Coppens’ 21 year history are to be auctioned online by Belgian auction house Appelboom. From June 24 to July 5 fans and collectors can start bidding on some incredible pieces from collections spanning 2 decades, including hats worn by celebs like Beth Ditto, Rihanna and Roisin Murphy, as well as some haute couture pieces and decorative objects.
As sad as it is to see the Christophe Coppens legacy getting sold off like this, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to get your hands on some wonderful pieces…
Bidding starts June 24, noon, until July 5, 4pm (local time) – to bid you have to register on www.makaa.be
Below is the video for his last collection, SS12 “Women of the Fields”, featuring Roisin Murphy.




















