Heads Up! Celebrating Britain’s Endangered Hat-Making Heritage

What an extraordinary two days celebrating Britain’s endangered millinery and hat-making crafts at Heads Up in Founders Hall, organised by The British Hat Guild and sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers.

Across four inspiring sessions, the symposium brought together makers, historians, designers, educators, students, and enthusiasts to champion Britain’s remarkable hat-making heritage and the specialist skills now recognised on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts. The event highlighted not only the artistry and innovation within millinery, but also the urgent importance of safeguarding these rare skills for future generations.

 Day One

• The symposium opened with a powerful introduction from Stephen Jones, who reflected on the cultural significance and future of endangered millinery skills. This was followed by insightful presentations from milliner Dillon Wallwork and Mary Lewis of Heritage Crafts, who set the scene for important discussions around endangered crafts, sustainability and the preservation of traditional knowledge.
• A fascinating presentation by Lucy Barlow and Veronica Main, Straw Plaiting and Strip Sewing – A Perfect Synergy, offered an inspiring insight into the artistry and future of these specialist straw techniques, drawing upon decades of expertise and passion.
• Attendees were also treated to a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the UK’s last remaining plumassiers through a wonderful film presentation from Jaffe Feathers.
• Further exploring the creative possibilities of traditional materials, Ian Bennett delivered his engaging talk, My Fascination with Feathers, examining the beauty, relevance and continued innovation of feathers within contemporary millinery.
• The afternoon sessions continued to celebrate craftsmanship and experimentation. Paul Stafford and Bridget Bailey presented Hand Pleating: From Flat to Form, a captivating exploration into the artistry and sculptural potential of hand pleating.
• In one of the symposium’s most imaginative presentations, Rebecca Gray shared Hats in Motion: Exploring Millinery through Marionette Puppetry, combining storytelling, performance, puppetry and millinery in a truly original way.
• Mavi Tzaig of The Panama Hat Company then guided audiences through The UK’s Love Affair with Panamas, tracing Britain’s enduring fascination with the iconic Panama hat.
• A particular highlight of the day was Flowers for the Queen: Inside the Craft of Royal Millinery by Rachel Trevor- Morgan. We were privileged to hear about the extraordinary craftsmanship, silk flower making and artistry behind hats created for Queen Elizabeth II.
• Throughout Saturday, Jo Willis also generously demonstrated her beautiful straw plaiting techniques, giving visitors the opportunity to witness the intricacy of the craft first-hand.

Day Two

• The second day opened with an important discussion on heritage crafts education led by Sarah Cant from The King’s Foundation and Vesna Pesic from Morley College London. Their conversation highlighted the essential role of training, mentorship and collaboration in sustaining specialist craft skills.
• Harvy Santos and Claire Strickland followed with Straw Hat Machines: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, including a live demonstration of the historic 17-Guinea Machine and its remarkable capabilities.
• One of the symposium’s most significant presentations came from Rachel Frost with Bowed-Felt Hatmaking: Rediscovering a Lost British Craft. Her dedication to researching and reviving this nearly lost heritage skill offered a moving reminder of the importance of craft preservation.
• In the afternoon, Catherine Morse-Brown from Guy Morse-Brown Hat Blocks delivered The Hidden Craft Behind Every Hat, shining a light on the extraordinary expertise behind traditional hat block making — a craft fundamental to millinery itself.
• The symposium also celebrated the artistry of traditional flower-making in Say it with Flowers: A Conversation About Traditional Flower-Making, presented by Giulia Mio, Edwina Ibbotson, Fiona Winter-Yates, Michelle Osborne, and Petershams Millinery Supplies. The presentation was a feast for the eyes and imagination, celebrating the beauty and versatility of traditional flower-making techniques.
• The symposium concluded with an entertaining and educational closing presentation from Ben Dalrymple and Paul Hier of Lock & Co. Hatters, Celebrating 350 Years of Lock & Co. — a fitting tribute to one of Britain’s most enduring hat-making institutions.

Jenny Roberts, co-head, British Hat Guild