Sinamay
Is sinamay worn in the winter? I have a large piece of fuchsia sinamay and some veiling that would make a great hat. Just wondering what the "rules" are, if there are any
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rina Wallace
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Hi Helen-
I had the same question in mind! Can't imagine wearing sinamay during Winters in the states, except perhaps in places like Arizona, Texas and some areas of California...
I have been wondering what other options there are for Winter hats, aside from felts and velvet, both of which I dearly love. Perhaps sinamay is so prevalent right now because of the time of year. It will be interesting to see the fabric choices and designs coming out for Fall and Winter.
Cheers,
Rina
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Permalink Reply by Helen Lee Marshall
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I have several felt hoods but I also have some dark sinamay including some white tan and black sinamay. I suppose I could make a hat with the plaid sinamay and some black satin ribbon and see what happens.The fuchsia sinamay has some matching beautiful fuchsia embroidered tulle that I have left over from another project.
In the last 2 years, I have only sold 4 hats and 1 wedding veil. They included 3 mother of the bride hats, 1 Kentucky Derby hat and one chapel length mantilla veil. There are probably close to 75 hats overtaking my upstairs family room. My husband doesn't go up there if he doesn't have to, because he knows he will be overwhelmed by feathers and netting!
P.S. My mother was a Wallace. Have researched genealogy on my Wallace's here in the states. They were illiterate tenant farmers who got in trouble in Scotland as teens and went to N. Ireland to keep from getting arrested (mischief makers and trouble causers) then came to the US as adults. Lots of very hard working tall dark and handsome guys (I have pictures) who went from Maryland to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Wisconsin ( about 1200 kilometers, ) . My grandmother used to call the family "Pioneer stock" ,(sounds like some kind of super cow) .
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Hi Helen-
It is great that you know the history of your family origin, which I find fascinating. Unfortunately, I do not know much about my ancestors. What I do know is that genetically, I am 79% African and 21% Caucasian, including British and Irish influences...
I just started the "Essentials" course and have not actually made any hats yet. Still waiting for my hat blocks to arrive. My interest in hat making stems from disappointment in the availability of well made hats on the market over the past several years. Of course I have seen a few beautiful hats, but they have been out of my range price wise. I favor less structure in all aspects of clothing, hats, jewelry, etc. And simplicity is key for me... So, I find myself wondering how I will fair in designing hats, that I, myself, do not favor, such as sinamay... My goal is to learn the basics and use those skills to design hats with materials I love.
It is scary to hear about your experience, so far. The expense involved alone, is costly; let alone the time and effort. Hat making is truly a love affair. But I need to experience financial gain...
I would love to see some of your work. Do you have a Web Site and are you on Etsy?
Rina
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My etsy shop. etsy.com/shop/Helenshatbox. Personally I can't stand the color fuchsia but I know it is popular , so I make fuchsia things. In the states hats are seldom worn so I don't have much of a base. Weddings and horse races are about the only time hats are worn (hence my sales) I would love to live in the UK or Australia or someplace else where hats are worn. My business would probably do better also if I lived in an area where I knew African American women who wore hats to church. A great deal of my problem is that I'm not "known" to people. I try to keep a Pinterest account and an Instagram account active so at least my hats are seen by my followers. My husband refers to millinery as my "hobby" I hope your millinery is more successful.
My DNA is on record at Ancestry.com and I wonder about my percentages. According to them I am almost 50% French/German. The only ancestor I have who was born in France is a 2X great grandfather who happened to be born in France but is of German descent. Many of my ancestors are English and Scottish. How much of the "French" DNA is Norman or Celtic I don't know. Once I heard that the Saxon DNA ( As in Anglo-Saxon) in the UK is identical to the Saxon DNA in Germany My great Grandmother was German but she is the only German ancestor that I know of. The rest of my DNA is a jumble of Scottish/English. I have several ancestors who said they were one thing and really were the other. A great deal of my ancestry goes back 200-350 years in the states where you could tell anybody anything on the frontier and they would take your word. No one could hunt down marriage licenses in a courthouse 300 miles away or visit cemetery's as close as 75 miles away.
Good luck! The classes are wonderful. Several of the hats in my shop are assignments from the class so you will probably recognize their style
Again Good luck and take care,
Helen
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Hi Helen-
It looks like things are turning around and women in the states seem to be wearing hats more than in the past, especially fascinators and headpieces. I have always loved hats; even more so today. My concern has been the lack of quality choices in hats on the market over the past several years. And, while I have occasionally seen a few gorgeous hats at higher end stores, they are extremely expensive...
I too, wish I lived in other parts of the world where wearing hats is the norm and there is an appreciation for beautiful hats. Your hats are lovely! Hang in there. Things will turn around soon!
Cheers.
Rina
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Permalink Reply by Caroline - Potomac Belle
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Rina, where is it you're seeing a resurgence of hats in the states? I'm trying to plot how we can grow the market! What I find is so many people say they love the look of hats but that they don't think they can wear them. One of my clients does hair for a living and asked me how I thought she should do her hair to match her hat! I was very happy to help and she did a great job, but I was surprised to be consulted on that point!
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Maybe I am being overly optimistic, Caroline... But I am seeing women wearing more hats to church and social events in Cincinnati Ohio, where I live and also in Atlanta. These women, as am I, are mostly African American. And, of course as we all know, over the past few years women in general have been wearing fedoras in the Summer and young women have been favoring floppy felt hats in Winter. My hope is that this trend will continue and expand to the kinds of hats we all want to create and sell!
I have been thinking about trying to generate more interest in hats via events and activities. Perhaps taking advantage of existing events and creating new ones. Your client's interest in your expertise is interesting... Of course I am new to all of this, so again, I am optimistic...
What do you think?
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I lived in the Dallas area for 12 years and went to what someone might call a "Country Club" church (Big church in old money part of town) Every Easter I wore a hat. I was lucky if there was another hat in the sanctuary. There were jokes for a while about Dallas women in hats, but I never saw one. I'll admit that I didn't hang out at the upscale restaurants but I did go a time or two and I NEVER saw a hat. Saw lots of pearls and Neiman Marcus suits but no hats. Here in Houston it is just too blessed HOT to wear a hat.
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I think this is deserving of its own thread, so I'll create one :)
Yes, I really admire that it seems like overall the African American church culture really respects and embraces the "Sunday best". Hope I haven't misstated anything to stereotype.
I am not a fan of the fedoras and untrimmed felt hats a lot of young "influencers" and Instagram models wear : / I do much prefer an elaborate church hat!
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Thank you Rina, I hope so
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I used to work for a lartge supermarket here in Houston. On Sundays we would occasionally see African American women in their hats and beautiful dresses or suits .I tried to get in touch of a church where the women wore hats but nothing became of it. There are a few hats in my shop that I think would be great for church.
It seems to me that many of the older Anglo women think "Been there, done that, don't want to do it again" attitude. (Those women say 70+ who wore hats as young women in the '60's) Though I haven't seen very many hats around here in the winter it seems to be the young women who wear them and places like Target carry the hats in the young woman's accessory area.
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I can't find the post but I got ann email from a woman in Alabama saying that they prefer sinimay there. It's probably as hot there as it is in Texas.
