Flowers are a favoured trim for headwear. This set of techniques will teach you how to tool silk and create your own French Flowers. All patterns are included in this course plus a detailed lesson on fabric stiffening. Now included with Hat Academy Studio subscription.

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Mastering the inclusion of fabric will enable you to create  hats to co-ordinate with a clients outfits.  It allows you to create one off styles as there is a greater range of pattern & texture. Lesson 17 features the use of buckram with fabric, this class gives you unlimited possibilities.…

You can now sell your hats through Hat Academy. Simply log in to your profile, click edit on the "My Store" box and add information, photos, videos about your millinery business. Great to promote your website, Etsy store or…

The Fedora hat first appeared in late 1880s and was worn as a symbol of wealth. In the 1940s, gangster movies featured in fedoras, & the hat took on a different meaning. The Fashion catwalks are embracing the fedora for women's wear but…

Hat Academy member Rose gives us a look at her Vintage braid machines collection, made 100+ yrs ago and still in working order. Rose has also shared photos of her hats which are Buckram based and she certainly…

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration took place this week with an array of beautiful hats on display. The queens milliner, Rachel Trevor-Morgan, reveals the secret to designing the perfect hat for Her Majesty.

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Hand made feathers using fabric or straw will enable you to co-ordinate the trim with component of your hat. Watch how to change shape & style of ordinary feathers.

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Finishing the edge of your Brim with a binding can be a feature of the final trim by co-ordinating or contrasting fabric or straw.

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The actress Doris Day was well know for her on screen romantic comedies in the 50s and 60s. Just as famous were the Swiss straw headwear creations she wore in some of her lead acting roles.

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Milan Fashion Week 2012.  Giorgio Armani adds Fedoras to the Catwalk. It was hats, hats and more hats at the Giorgio Armani's runway show at 2012 Milan Fashion Week.

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Panama Hats are not as popular as they were in the 1950/60 era but they are still hand made in the traditional fashion. Made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant and woven by hand.

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The Felt Hood in unblocked form has been pressed and manipulated in a centuries-old process using heat, water, and pressure to create the strongest, smoothest, most water-resistant natural fabric known.

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Traditional yet timeless, bows can be redesigned as in this photo using the combination of fabric & straw to make a different bow. Check out the bow gallery for more examples.

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Elaine Mergard, the Hat Academy milliner and mentor, has had over 35 years of teaching students enabling each one to develop their unique creativity.  With a successful millinery career under her hat, her mission is to now help create the next generation of Milliners.

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Milan Fashion Week 2012.  Giorgio Armani adds Fedoras to the Catwalk. It was hats, hats and more hats at the Giorgio Armani's runway show at 2012 Milan Fashion Week.



Fedora-style hats were paired with almost everything and were worn in a slightly tilted manner to give them a sexy slant.The Brims were wider than winter styling and some tilted up one side. The collection…

Panama Hats are not as popular as they were in the 1950/60 era but they are still hand made in the Traditional Fashion. We holidayed at Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico in 2007 and I was searching for basic panama hoods to bring home. Obviously no Tourist Stop-overs supply such but now know Becal is the Hat Capital of Mexico.



We saw Toquilla plants growing &…

Vintage 1950s Hat Styles were worn by movie star Doris Day -a fun loving Actress as her movies were often romantic comedies. Most of these hats are made from Swiss Straw excluding the Cloche felt Hat.

All the hats sat up on the head whereas today they sit down closer to the face and very often forward on brow. Have a browse at her most famous onscreen hats…

Felt Hat making is one of my Favourites but living in Sub Tropical Australia limits the demand. I love how steaming the felt allows it to become as pliable as children's Play dough.This is because Felt is a mass of wool and/or fur. It is not woven so it has no resistance to pull & push techniques. The Felt Hood in unblocked form has been pressed and manipulated in a centuries-old…