Hat over Heels
29 April 2014
Before Easter we had the honour of holding the first Hat Over Heels event, a hat making day for women with cancer or alopecia who have undergone hair loss. The workshop was led by milliner and Institute of Making member Sahar Freemantle, who hand makes hats and original headpieces, combining traditional millinary techniques with avant garde style.
Sahar said 'I was moved to see some of the women remove their scarves or wigs for the first time and within minutes feel comfortable in their own beauty.'
On the day we had a wealth of milliners on hand to help make the participants' ideas come to life including Katherine Ferdinand; also part of Hat Over Heels, and well-known for her elegant, feminine floral creations.
Katherine commented: 'The millinery provided a foundation for us to connect, and as the day progressed, I became more inspired by each of the women’s stories. The hidden benefits were the conversations had and connections made. By sharing stories it allowed us all to put our own experiences into perspective, mutually creating an atmosphere of sisterhood.'
It was a day of fun and creativity. With the aid of professionals, participants made their own hat or headpiece to take away and wear with pride!
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