2020 Melbourne International Millinery Competition - Very Berry

Also a finalist in the 2020 Melbourne International Millinery Competition, Very Berry transforms materials into something new, while still maintaining a link to their original purpose.

This hat is created from a torn and faded jumper and an old shirt discarded from my husband’s wardrobe.

Using an old straw panama as a block, I created an inner and outer crown from the jumper. The top of the crown is trimmed with the neck edging from the jumper, echoing the jumper’s V-neck.

I made the upper brim from the jumper and the underside from the shirt. The brim is wired with wire from the old hat. The internal head-fitting ribbon was created from the shirt.

Very Berry is adorned with the collar and a cuff from the shirt. The collar points are wired with wire ties from a new phone charger cord. The jumper’s band has become a hat band.

#mimc_competition

#theessentialhat

#mimc2020

Photography: #stavrofoto

Model & HMU: Charlie Jean #trulycharliejean

2020 Melbourne International Millinery Competition - Knotty But Nice

Both entries announced as finalists! First time achieved Top 8 finalist! Selected for Paris catwalk show!

MIMC 2020 was an incredible experience with my best result in the competition ever.

This year milliners were challenged to turn trash to treasure and waste to wow.

Hats and headpieces could be made using any materials as long as they stayed within the theme. Entrants were required to provide photographs of the materials you planned to use, taken before you started using them. Judging criteria included: style; line; balance; weight; technique; finish; originality: and percentage of recycled materials.

Both of my entries were finalists. Knotty But Nice made it to the Top 8 and was selected for a Paris catwalk show!

Thank you Catherine Ellen and Team Essential for another fabulous year!

Below is my entry description and materials pictures for Knotty But Nice.

Knotty But Nice

I wanted to create a hat for this competition with materials I would normally discard as useless.

Knotty But Nice is constructed with string ends from a Shantung Straw hood. These usually ‘straight to the bin’ offcuts each measured no more than 6-10cm long.

The brim is constructed with 42 metres of knotted string ends, alternating black or white every fourth string. Repurposed millinery wire created an inner and an outer circle, serving as a loom for weaving the tied string ends into a brim.

The top of the crown is made from black and white trimmings from the knots. These trimmings are also used under the top of the crown. Black knotted string ends create the outside of the crown. White knotted string ends create the inside of the crown.

The starburst motif is made from more than 10m of white knotted string ends woven on a circular loom. Repurposed black hat elastic positions the hat slightly forward on the wearer’s head.

#mimc_competition

#theessentialhat

#mimc2020

Photography: #stavrofoto

Model & HMU: Charlie Jean #trulycharliejean