Nuriel & Audrey Molcho

Nomade Moderne

Milliner

©Voithofer Valerie

Finding perfection in imperfection

Nuriel cherishes the unconventional and imperfect in his work
His hats reflect the modern nomad exploring the world
He is also a blogger, restaurant manager and photographer

Two years ago, Nuriel needed to find an unusual hat. When his search was unsuccessful, he decided to make his own. And so it was that he created something that would change his life. As a member of the prominent Molcho family, owning NENI – a group of restaurants originally only in Vienna and now all over Europe – Nuriel was already a photographer, blogger and restaurant manager; however, it soon became clear that he would add a fourth profession to his life. Together with his wife Audrey, he started teaching himself traditional millinery techniques, finally opening a hat maker’s studio on Vienna’s famous Naschmarkt, right next to the NENI restaurant.

Interview

©Voithofer Valerie

What inspires you most in terms of creativity?: The client themselves. Every hat is made to measure, telling the client’s story and reflecting their personality. Also, as my wife and I are modern-day travellers, our journeys around the world inspire us. This is also where we find the rare and unique fabrics for our new creations.
How did you find the equipment for your workshop?: That was a really lucky coincidence. We found an online advert by the son of a former milliner on a second-hand sales website. He wanted to sell almost all the equipment from his mother’s workshop – we bought it and started improvising, initially in the living room of our apartment.
What did your very first hat look like?: My first hat, which I still love and wear, was totally crazy, slightly burnt and looked very unconventional and vagabondish. All these imperfections quickly became characteristic of our hats. Finding perfection in imperfection – that is our motto.
What's been the best moment of your hat making career so far?: When football star Neymar ordered one of our hats. Often, life is so simple: if you are bold enough to make the first move, start your business, improve constantly and dedicate your time to what you are truly passionate about, success will come naturally.

Nuriel & Audrey Molcho are expert artisans: they began their career in 2015 and they started teaching in 2021