Featured Blog Posts - Learn How To Make Hats Online | Hat Academy Millinery Courses

Veiling and Shaping Live Mentor

2026-02-26T03:00:00.000Z

Learn alongside Sophie Allport as you explore veiled brim headpieces and receive extra guidance on finishing and creative details for your project.

» Learn…

Sophie Allport Mentor

2025-11-20T07:30:00.000Z

Join Sophie Allport for an exclusive live mentoring session exploring thermoplastic foundations and blocking bold shapes.
» Learn more

Designer Spotlight: Kelly Maskell

2025-09-24T00:00:00.000Z

Kelly Maskell blends a lifelong love of making with eclectic inspiration. Recently, her design “Graffiti and Grace” won the Millinery Australia Student Award.
» Read more

New Essential Saucer Lesson

2025-09-10T05:30:00.000Z

Create a pleated Jinsin saucer hat using simple materials, learn techniques including wirework and tailored finishing to design striking millinery.

» Learn…

Designer Spotlight: Ellie Jian

2025-07-17T08:19:44.000Z

Ellie Jian’s millinery journey is a reflection of how passion, artistry, and personal connection can transform a simple accessory into wearable art.
» Read More

Designer Spotlight: Isobel Robinson

2025-05-21T01:06:09.000Z

From biology to bows, Isobel Robinson blends timeless elegance with modern technique—creating tailored headwear that enhances natural beauty, shaped by hand in her Yorkshire home studio.

» Read…

Lina Stein Live Mentor

2025-04-23T00:15:11.000Z

In this exclusive live mentoring event focused on creative skills, Lina Stein offers guidance and demonstrations to help you create bespoke hats you’ll be proud of.

» Learn…

New Classic Statement Hats Course

2025-03-20T05:30:00.000Z

Design handcrafted open crown felt hats with Master Milliner Lina Stein, blending traditional hatting and contemporary millinery to create timeless Fedora and Trilby styles.

» Learn…

New Lesson: Bakerboy Cap

2025-02-18T23:00:00.000Z

Join creative milliner Lauren J. Ritchie and learn to design a stylish fabric Bakerboy Flat Cap. Explore pattern drafting, fabric tailoring, and finishing techniques in this step-by-step lesson.

» Learn…

Spotlight: Julie Herbert

2025-01-23T02:00:00.000Z

Julie Herbert shares insights into her creative process, recent projects, and the personal experiences that have shaped her millinery.
» Designer Spotlight

Waltraud Reiner Live Mentor

2024-12-18T22:30:00.000Z

Experience this live mentor session for personalised feedback and demonstrations, unlocking new artistic possibilities.
» Learn more

Block Maker's Choice

2024-03-19T05:00:00.000Z

Hat Blocks Australia team Darryll and Renee Osborne recommend this very popular High Arch Duchess block. It features a soft duck tail and a deep curved arched base. As it is not a head fit but the high arch allows the shape to perch firmly on either side of the wearers head, to give a jaunty appeal. Measurements are 7.5cm long and 6.5cm wide. If you have any Block questions contact Darryll or Renee for their expert advice.

Spotlight: Kelly Hill

2024-10-02T04:00:00.000Z

Meet Kelly Hill, a talented milliner whose passion for feathers, artistic roots, and creative process inspire truly unique designs.
» Designer spotlight

Spotlight: Stephanie Munro

2024-08-14T06:30:00.000Z

Learn how Stephanie Munro turned her lifelong love for hats into a vibrant profession, blending traditional and modern design in her creative journey.
» Designer Spotlight

New: Parisisal Button Lesson

2024-07-12T01:30:00.000Z

Master hat blocking techniques with Lauren Ritchie's expert guidance and creative insights.
» Learn more

New Velvet Flowers Lesson

2024-03-08T04:30:00.000Z

Discover essential techniques for working with velvet fabric and create gorgeous millinery florals.
» Learn more

Custom Alice Bands Lesson

2024-01-31T03:30:00.000Z

Create tailored Alice Bands with tutor Sophie Allport, designed from the ground up.
» Learn more

Live Lesson Schedule 2024

2024-01-24T00:30:00.000Z

We are excited to announce the schedule of Live Lessons that will be held over the coming months, covering a range of creative millinery topics and guided by your favourite tutors. » Live Lessons

Millinery Highlights 2023

2023-12-25T22:30:00.000Z

We invite you to explore this year's highlights from Hat Academy and the millinery industry. Best wishes in the holiday season from the Hat Academy Team - thank you so much for your support throughout the year.
» 2023 Highlights

Cynthia Jones-Bryson 2023 Millinery Award

2023-12-18T04:30:00.000Z

Congratulations to Cynthia Jones-Bryson, whose exceptional talent has earned her the prestigious 2023 Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award, a testament to her imagination and skill. Winning this Millinery award for the third time is phenomenal and stands as a testament to Cynthia's ongoing innovation.

The perfect Trifecta on Melbourne Cup Day, what did this win mean to you personally?
Firstly let me say it was an absolute thrill, but very surreal to win this award. As it sinks in personally it feels a bit validating as well – I work hard at developing my skills and trying new things.

What is the name of this piece?
‘Sway With Me’ is the name of the headpiece. Inspired by the song Sway by Michael Buble.

How did the unique material used come about?
I found the material in a charity shop many years ago and only rediscovered I had it earlier in the year and I am still in the experimentation stage with it. The material is very lightweight making it comfortable to wear, two prototypes were produced to achieve the perfect fit.

What inspired your choice of colours?
I love colour and playing with combinations. Pink and green were a strong trend this year (lots of this colour combo at Flemington). I decided to go for chartreuse and fuchsia and dyed the chartreuse silk for the flowers.

The recent Gala event at NGV was a standout moment. How does their acquisition of your work hold significance for you?
It is truly an honour and one I will always treasure – its gives me a bench mark to design and create by.

Cynthia Jones-Bryson returns to the Millinery.info podcast to share about her recent winning piece for the Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award. As part of the prize, Cynthia attended the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Gala, and the piece is now acquired by the Gallery with thanks to the Victorian Racing Club (VRC).

» Discover more from @cynthiajonesbrysonmillinery

Behind The Hat: Olya Ryjenko

2023-12-05T05:00:00.000Z

Congratulations to Olya Ryjenko as the recipient of the First Prize Novice Award in Hatters Hattember 2023 Millinery Competition. Olya shares with us her inspiration and the design skills she used to create this winning whimsical piece.
Photo: Hattember

The theme for your category was “Happy Hatting” and your lobster creation certainly made us all smile. When you received your curated bag of Millinery supplies did your inspiration come immediately?
This might sound a little odd but I thought of the lobster as soon as I opened the materials pack – everything I received was red so it seemed like an obvious choice to me. I did initially spend time illustrating a number of other design ideas that were more traditional but my heart was really with the lobster concept so I decided to just go for it and see if I could make it work.

Amongst all the entries your headpiece certainly popped out in colour and shape as a form of surreal art. Is this your usual design styling?
As a novice milliner, I’m still discovering my preferences and enjoying trying different methods and styles. However, I’ve made a couple of pieces this year that quite overtly take inspiration from surrealist art. It’s an inviting genre for statement pieces that are injected with fun, absurdity and a sense of not taking oneself too seriously. It is definitely a style I keep gravitating towards and will continue to explore into the future. For me, this approach is emblematic of the fun you can have when you set aside the notion of traditional design aesthetics, particularly if the technical execution is done well. This is something I am continuing to work on and have some interesting ideas in mind for my next piece!

To shape the sinamay did you have suitable blocks or how did you improvise?
I had to do a bit of improvising. The lobster’s head was blocked using a couple of sinamay layers on a small button block. The claws were blocked with 2 layers on a slightly asymmetric toque/fez style crown block. Once dry, I removed the blocked sinamay from the block, marked the depth and trimmed it to the marking. I then squished the sinamay down to create a little fold and voilà, the claw was formed. The sinamay was very forgiving and I was pleasantly surprised that both claws could be folded symmetrically without issue.

Experimentation process.

What first sparked your interest in Millinery?
In my 20s I was obsessed with early twentieth century fashion with a huge interest in the hats and shoes of the 1920s to the 1940s. I briefly tried my hand at making custom reproduction clothing from that era for clients but eventually realised I really just wanted to make hats! I started making hats from vintage and reproduction patterns and then came across old instructional books from the early twentieth century that explained blocking and wiring. At the time, I felt like I was out of my depth so decided to start my millinery journey formally at TAFE College.

What is your previous experience with millinery competitions?
This is my third competition entry. Last year’s Hattember was my first and I was very proud to have been selected as a finalist in the Novice category. I strongly believe that competitions are a wonderful way for student or novice milliners to improve their skills. You may not know what materials you’re going to receive so you may end up having to really push yourself to work with materials or techniques you’ve never tried before. I think there’s a sense of validation there from being able to pull something together to a brief and challenge yourself. The more you do it, the better you get! You are also forced to work to a deadline which is fantastic training for working with clients.

Can you tell us about the use of veiling in the design?
The veiling was part of my materials pack and I was really pleased – I had just watched Louise Macdonald’s Different Hat, Same Veil Live Lesson on Hat Academy and at the time was particularly struck with her demo of making tiny feather claws to accent veiling. Serendipitously, I watched this lesson at the point where I was deciding which of my designs to proceed with and it was a perfect match - I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to add this detail to the veiling of my headpiece – it was meant to be!

Design process.

Judges place emphasis on finish and wearability. What steps did you take to ensure you had accomplished this criteria?
Judges’ feedback from the last hat competition I entered suggested I most needed to improve in these two areas so I got to practising! In particular, I focused on making wired headbands for a variety of hats and headpieces of different sizes and angles that require different support structures to hold them in place comfortably and securely. One headpiece is actually for an upcoming competition and is 70cm wide! By the time Hattember rolled around, I felt confident I could create a support that was both solid and attractive.

For the finish criterion, I leaned a bit further into the idea of millinery being ‘slow fashion’ and really took the time to practise keeping stitches small and even, hiding raw edges, making sure that surfaces are crisp – all the bread and butter millinery technique things. And if something didn’t look quite right, carefully unpicking and starting again. My motto is: “if the hat looks more like it belongs to a school Easter hat parade than to a millinery competition, undo and try again!” To translate for anyone who isn’t in Australia, it’s about being conscious that millinery as a practice needs to be executed with a degree of finesse or it can verge on looking like craft.

What was the biggest challenge creating this stand out Headpiece?
I had several designs in mind for executing the lobster hat, each involving different combinations of materials and techniques – some came in the pack and others I owned already or purchased to play around with. I was experimenting and had a few toiles going simultaneously, and had reached a point where I couldn’t decide which one to proceed with. Then I had a fortuitous chat with a peer who gave me some great advice: “just stick to the materials in the pack”. Simple and perhaps obvious but I was able to move forward after that without overcomplicating the design or getting overwhelmed with all the experimentation. I will be taking that advice with me to all future Hattembers!

What does this win mean to you personally and for your branding?
I can’t adequately express how validating this win was! I think the best part was feeling like there is a place for me as a budding milliner amongst the amazing talent of the millinery community. This has given me more confidence to pursue my own style and approach. It has also cemented the idea that getting involved and trying things can have really amazing and unexpected outcomes. I really just feel a sense of excitement about the future!

Thanks Olya, enjoy your prize of a 12 months subscription to Hat Academy Studio+

» More from Olya Ryjenko

» Hattember Competition

Lillian Frank Millinery Award Winner

2023-11-07T05:00:00.000Z

Congratulations to Cynthia Jones-Bryson, whose exceptional talent has earned her the prestigious Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award, a testament to her imagination and skill. We look forward to seeing Cynthia continue to inspire us with her creativity.

» Behind The Hat: Cynthia Jones-Bryson

Matcho Suba Interview

2023-10-24T22:30:46.000Z

Melbourne based Fashion Designer Matcho Suba, has recently embraced millinery in his styling portfolio.
» Read more

Wendy Scully Interview

2023-09-20T01:30:00.000Z

Discover the world of Wendy Scully, a seasoned milliner whose passion for art has given rise to truly unique hat designs.
» Read more

Behind the Hat: Araks Nazarian

2023-08-22T01:00:00.000Z

Congratulations to Araks Nazarian as the recipient of First Prize Award in the 2023 Millinery Australia Student Design Award competition. Take a look behind the hat to discover Araks' inspiration and creativity.

What is the significance in your choice of a flowering Gum Nut to depict the theme “ALIVE” ?
As of late, I have been drawn to the vibrancy and delicate nature of the flowering gum. The colours and structure of the blossom is mesmerising to me. Australian Native flowers are incredibly beautiful, and as they tend to begin blooming earlier than "Western" spring flowers, we are blessed with a pallet of bright colours all year round. The resilience of our native flora is also something to be admired. The way they push up through fire ravaged bush to recreate life is something I feel not only I can relate to as an Armenian and a descendant of a Genocide Survivor, but also embrace within the Indigenous Cultures of Australia. This country has a dark past, but we can allow it to bloom and create beauty in our lives from here on.

The petals are aglow and alive in colour. How you dyed these in shades of yellow to crimson red?
Thank you! As a student member of Millinery Australia, I was assigned a mentor to help me with the design and creation process. I sent through to her multiple options, including peacock hurls and fringing, however we found that the look of the incredibly narrow crinoline tubing (4mm) had the best movement given the size of the piece and also in assisted with the overall silhouette. I originally had my heart set on just red, but unfortunately, the only supplier of red crin tube in Australia, House of Adorn, had a small amount, and they suggested to me to spray white tubing with Florist Spray to achieve the colour I wanted. I started playing around with this idea and came up with the ombre you see on the fringing on the hat. Needless to say I was quite surprised at myself for coming up with that, and of course very excited!

I'd like to note, that pulling the thread out of the tubing was a crucial detail I wanted to make sure I paid attention to. This changed the length of the tubing, so it took me some time to figure out exactly how long to cut each piece before I pulled the two threads out of each piece one by one with tweezers. This alone was over 9 hours of work! I attached them using a feather flower technique, with different layers of sinamay between, and made sure I had some of the "wild" pieces curl up all over the place, and of course out of the eyes of the wearer.

To form the nut shape did you have a block in that shape?
As I was using some very old vintage braid, I needed to allow the braid to tell me how large to make the piece. I did play around with alot of stainless steel bowls, and some blocks thatI have at home, but found the shape of my Kitchenaid bowl was the perfect look. As I couldn't block a base properly around it because of the handle, I used foss shape for the first time and tried a little mould of it, before using it to guide the braid. The point is freeform, the top little "bulb" is shaped around a stainless steel semi sphere mould I use for pastry work, and the base just became a natural form, sometimes tidying it up with the use of steam and different size bowls, and sometimes altering the way I stretched the braid to help create the shape.

The nut shape has no base, however the "skull cap" is yellow raffia fabric, as I wanted that grassy nature of the scrubland in the Australian bush, covered with black sinamay so you could not see it from the top if any natural imperfections from the braid allowed you to see through.

Share how supportive Supplier House of Adorn has been in your millinery journey?
Even though I signed up to the competition right away, I missed the email that stated it was going to be held the same time as the Associate Design Award! As I was busy on my first solo food styling gig for an upcoming Stan show, my focus was all on that. While waiting on set between takes, I messaged my mentor and apologised that I hadn't been in contact with her. This is when she reminded me that the hat was due in Melbourne Friday Week!

Thankfully I had the braid at home already, and some work went into getting it back to a good workable state, but the crin tube was somewhat a bit of a challenge! The ladies down at House of Adorn went out of their way to package my tubing immediately and have it ready for me to organise fed ex to pick it up that afternoon. Unfortunately, I didn't realise you had to not only pay for the pickup but then ring up and book it also, and when the driver had not arrived by 5, they called me to make sure I had it under control, which is when I learned how the fed ex system works. When I didn't have enough, as I said before, they have me a suggestion which I mentioned above, and then they measured every single bit of white and natural tubing they had, even their offcuts, and had it ready for me the next day for a now much better organised Fed ex pick up! I will forever be grateful for their help.

I also need to mention the now two prize packs I have received from them. Not only have I gotten a $50 gift voucher, to purchase whatever I wanted, but also they have sent me a $50 prize pack, both times asking me what I may be interested in experimenting with and what colours I am loving right now.

What do you enjoy most about millinery?
Millinery has been a way of me quirking up my wardrobe for almost two decades now. I have loved putting together pieces which not only complimented by outfit, but sometimes also the event I was at. Spray painting mini kitchen utensils gold and hiding them in a eucalypt and natural coloured headband, or having a squishy croissant hidden under a wave of curled feathers are just an example of what I have created in the past. During covid, I found myself with no creative outlet, working in a fish shop as a pastry chef was taking its toll, so I signed up to Certificate 3 in Millinery at Ultimo Tafe, and it all went wild from there.

Do you have any tips for millinery novices considering entering the Design Award?
Sign up as a member and take advantage of the mentoring! The two hours you receive, which usually ends up being just a whatever you need scenario, is some of the best support I have had throughout any of my creative careers. The associates volunteer for this, so they are already emotionally invested in making sure whoever they are helping does their absolute best. I have also created a great bond with both my mentors. Georgia Skelton last year and Jo Peterson in 2023 and have been there to help me in many ways after the competition ended when I had questions about other millinery related issues. We have a saying in our Armenian scouts "lift, elevate". Lift yourself and then elevate others with you. These two wonderful ladies have most definitely encompassed this meaning, and are role models I look up to every day while I continue in my journey.

Also, think of your piece as a whole. It is a design award, so don't just create a "hat", but wearability and comfort are VERY important. Alot of my winning points not only lay with the visual impact, but also the wearability of the piece. If you can't put it on and wiggle to your favourite tune, then its not made well enough.

What does this win mean to you personally?
The win itself was not as incredible as the amazing support I have received from everyone for creating my hat. The social media response was really unexpected given the timeframe in which I managed to finish this piece, and of course the wonderful words and congratulations at the Gala by Milliners I admire was something I will cherish for a very long time. The placing was merely a bonus for me, I got what my heart truly needed from the support at the Gala, and beyond.

It reassured me, that even though I may have some self doubts in my ability to be as good as I would like (standard creative) that there is a lot of support out there, watching my every move and looking forward to what my next steps are in my Millinery career. Everything I have done in my creative past, from Art Department on films, to Sugar showpieces and 3D animation and special effects, has merged into allow me to think outside the box and make pieces that I hope not only myself or milliners will enjoy, but customers aswell as I dive into unknown territory for me in creating my brand.

We love your passion Araks! Enjoy your prize, annual subscription to Studio+
Follow @araks_nazarian

» More award winners: Behind The Hat

Image Credits:
Model: @scarlett.mayer_
Makeup: @amykennymakeup
Photographer: @richshawphoto
Photography Producer: @lisawattproductions
Event host: @millineryaustralia

Dramatic Bows Lesson

2023-07-17T03:00:00.000Z

Discover how to create striking statement bows that retain their sculpted form and demand attention.
» Learn more

In Memoriam Harold Guinsberg

2023-05-02T06:00:00.000Z

It is with great sadness and loss I wish to share with you the passing of Australia’s Millinery Patriarch, Harold Guinsberg at the age of 97yrs.

“

Eulogy - “Say not in grief ‘he is no more’ but in thankfulness that he was.”

Dear friends and family,

We are gathered here today to remember and honor the life of Harold Guinsberg, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and community member. Harold was a remarkable man who achieved great things from humble beginnings to becoming a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Harold began his journey at a young age, leaving Scots College Toowoomba at just 16 years old to start working on the factory floor of HG shirts and Mimi Millinery. He quickly rose through the ranks with hard work and dedication, eventually taking over the business. Under his leadership, HG Shirts and Mimi Millinery thrived. Harold continued to expand his entrepreneurial ventures when he opened Etcetera department store, a one-stop-shop for fashion, millinery, jewelry, baby wear, hosiery and a cafe, among other things. His leadership and determination helped him achieve great success and establish himself as a prominent figure in the fashion industry.

Over the years Harold's business ventures included the Towermill Motel restaurant and a Gold Coast nightclub demonstrating his ability to take on new challenges and make them succeed. Harold was a man who truly embodied the Aussie spirit of hard work and innovation. He was a true visionary, always looking for the next big opportunity and never afraid to take risks.

Harold also considered himself a product designer, and he created the Go Keg, a portable high-quality keg tap system. This was quite ironic as Harold was a teetotaler but that did not stop him from pursuing his passion for creating new things.

In addition to his business success, Harold had a passion for dance, a love he inherited from his father Harry, who was one of Australia's ballroom champions. He was also a talented water skier, and he worked with Keith Williams to instruct water skiers at Sea World on the Gold Coast. His love for water skiing was just one example of his adventurous spirit and his willingness to try new things.

Harold will be missed by all who knew him. He was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life. His presence in our lives was a reminder to never give up, to always strive for excellence, and to find joy in the journey. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to hard work will continue to inspire us for years to come.

While we mourn Harold's passing, we take comfort in the knowledge that he is at peace. He is reunited with his loved ones who have passed before him, and his spirit will live on in the memories and stories we share about him.

So, let us honor Harold's life by celebrating the many ways he enriched our lives. Let us remember him not only for his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit but for the kind-hearted, generous, and loving man he was. Harold's legacy will live on through his family, his friends, and the many lives he touched throughout his long and successful life.

Rest in peace, Harold Guinsberg. You will always be remembered with love and admiration.

„

We all loved Harold and his passion for Millinery which he willingly shared with us. His wry sense of humour will be missed. I had many conversations with him over the years as I first started buying millinery components from the lower level of his MIMI store in Queen St., Brisbane in 1964.

Over lunch I shared with Harold a business idea I had but his reply, "You are too old to be doing that Elaine!" My reply, "Come on Harold think about what you were doing at age 75!"

Thank You Harold for being our friend and mentor.
We all loved you so much and will remember you forever. Rest in peace.

Elaine Mergard.

New Studio+ Monthly

2023-04-05T22:30:00.000Z

Introducing Studio+ monthly, an inspired collection of millinery learning.
» Learn more

Hats On The Run

2023-03-13T05:00:00.000Z

“Let’s get away from it all”…. on the World’s Greatest Hat Adventure! Queensland Milliner, Wendy White of Rockhampton Queensland along with her husband and 4 children dared to Venture where the rest of us fear to tread… but how we wish we could also get away from it all!! The family hit the road when the children were aged 2,5,8 and 9 years of age. Everyone thought they were ‘nuts’ and so their converted truck, that was their new home was called –“ Truck & Nuts”

Describe how you made your ‘Truck & Nuts’ vehicle your home?
For 18 months we lived in a truck which was originally a furniture removal van. Six of us lived in tight quarters, but it was great fun. We had aircon, full size shower and loo. The Children had 4 single beds on a mezzanine floor above my work area where I had two industrial sewing machines and an industrial press as well as a cutting area. We had a club lounge and table and a make shift kitchen area with running water. We had a small generator that would run the fridge and TV.

How did your passion for hats start out?
I used to sew children’s clothes for the markets and met a lady named Helen who sold Hessian Hats. I started working for Helen making her fabric hats and she would pay me $5 a hat to make them up. They would come to me cut and I would only have to sew. Later I bought her business when she retired but started making my hats in denim. Firstly, I made them from recycled fabric - from skirts and old jeans. Later I discovered I could buy end of run rolls for $1.00 m so I started using new fabric.

Where did you set up your first market stall.
My markets were in central Queensland at the start and then we would venture further out to the outback towns where they had their agricultural shows, not only around Queensland but NSW and NT. There were no race day hats back then only my fabric hats. I had about 14 different styles.

Explain the significance of your label “Bush Buddies”.
At the time I started making hats, we lived on a 580 acre property at Raglan, 45min drive from Rockhampton therefore ‘Bush’ because it was where we lived and ‘Buddies’ as my kids were my best mates.

How did this adventure with your children impact them or teach them lessons in life?
In the 1990s the Queensland government operated Schools for ‘Showies’ and it meant that at the big shows the children went to school in one class with all the various levels. I home schooled when we attended smaller shows. I am very proud of all my children who have bought their own homes and cars and we did not help them at all. We taught them how to make money and build a secure future.

What do customers love about your hats.
They love the fabric hats as they keep their shape really well and because they last way too long…LOL !

How did you improve a basic hat to make it look more stylish?
I created bows that were removeable and flower bands that could be removed and trimmed them with beaded bands.

My hats over the years have changed and I now top stitch them rather than add heavy fishing line in the brim. I have built a skill set that would allow me to take any fabric and turn it into a hat…… Right foundation/ the guts….hat sits right on the head whether sheer or heavy fabric…. not too heavy as you don’t want to give someone a headache! My fabric country hat is my favourite and even 20 years down the track I still have an old client who comes and asks me to make her a new one. I love the colours of the rainbow and offer a range of colourful hats as every person is different - each client is unique and every hat needs to be as unique as its owner.

Tell us about your move into Millinery and Fashion hats.
I attended a two day flower making workshop through the Flying Arts School with tutor Waltraud Reiner. I then bought every book written on millinery and some are real treasures that will never leave my collection

My real millinery started when I did the 2^nd International Millinery Forum in Wagga Wagga and I attended a class with Sydney Milliner, Neil Grigg. I won a scholarship to go back there for Winter School and learn race wear with Neil. This changed my life and his too!

What is the busiest time for hat production?
As Central Queensland races are all year round I am always making and creating something new for my clients.

Have you won any Fashions On The Field competitions or Millinery competitions?
Oh Yes!! My list is so long. I made the final for the UK hat designer twice. Have received two awards for the Hat Life magazine in the USA. I won a section in the Hat Festival in France with my Flame piece, and it now lives in the Caussade Hat Museum.

Last year in 2022 I had four headpieces exhibited at the Russian embassy in France. So many clients make the finals or win Fashions on the Field here and overseas. I was joint winner of the Melbourne Millinery Award in 2022. I have taught millinery on several occasions and hope to continue this in the future to share all my tips and tricks.

Any final thoughts Wendy to share with up and coming milliners?
Hats will change your life and other peoples. lives too. Millinery will frustrate you, challenge you and move you outside your comfort zone… but in the end when your client rings and says she or he is a winner Oh what Joy!! and I made that… I brought that to life… great bliss…

Keep hatting Lovelies… Life is a journey. You can sit on the sidelines or you can jump in and participate.

More from @wendywhitemillinery

Millinery Highlights 2022

2022-12-20T05:00:00.000Z

Explore all the 2022 highlights from Hat Academy and the world of millinery!
» 2022 Highlights