Svend Paris was a prominent mid-century Parisian millinery known for designing sculptural, often whimsical hats during the 1950s. This independent millinery label was established in Paris by Danish designer Svend (pronounced Swenn) Legind GRAVESEN in 1956. Svend was born in Denmark and opened his first shop in Copenhagen. Aage THAARUP, milliner of the Queen and a fellow Dane recalled meeting Svend in 1946 on a trip to Copenhagen straight after the war. THAARUP was one of London's most noted milliners at the time and recalled that Svend "begged me to look at his hats during my visit...To me the talent was apparent even in that first year". Later Svend went on to move to Paris. When he arrived there, his name was Svend Legind GRAVESEN, but he became just plain Svend very shortly afterward. Originally working with designers like Jacques FATH, for the last two years before founding his own brand, he has been millinery designer at the House of Jacques Heim at 15 Avenue Matignon. His designs are described as sculptural, ranging from small "chignon" caps to wider-brimmed felt or mohair hats. In 1957, he was featured for designing fruit-inspired hats (pineapple, pear, melon). He also created "shaggy" and "cheese-ball" styles. In 1958 Svend visited New York, where he was very pleased with the local hat market, he sold a lot in America in the late 1950s. But the brand's activity appears to have tapered off in the late 1960s, when the custom millinery industry faced a sharp decline due to changing fashion norms and the rise of more casual hairstyles. The designer transitioned away from the high-fashion spotlight, and like many mid-century millinery houses that did not pivot to ready-to-wear, the label gradually ceased operations to the mid-1970s.