The film traces the tumultuous history of the hat to the present day. The beaver, which was decimated in Europe for its hair used to produce felt, was trapped as far away as America, as early as the 17th century. The conquest of North America is intrinsically linked to the rush for beaver skins. At the beginning of the 20th century, the industry was flourishing until the 1960's and already, the hair of another rodent, the rabbit, was the happiness of hatters. Then came the crisis, and the film travels through devastated mono-industrial cities in Portugal, France and Belgium. Today, there are niche markets: Tyrolean, Orthodox Jewish or cowboy hats. The film looks at the hat as a fashion accessory. Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga show how the hat is an essential accessory to assert one's individuality.
Mad about Hats : How the West was won in the beaver gold-rush, How hatters went mad by breathing in mercury vapours, How wearing a hat raises your fashion profile. A three-part story from the fashion world. La Folie du Chapeau, C’est la conquête de l’Amérique par la ruée vers le castor. La folie du chapelier engendrée par les vapeurs de mercure, Le chapeau instrument d’affirmation personnelle Une histoire décoiffante orchestrée par la mode.
