All eyes in the fashion and millinery world will be busy watching for the latest trend and dramas at Royal Ascot this week or at Yorkshire’s Ladies day at Ripon Races. Six Leeds College of Art millinery students hope to extend that magic a little longer and entice people to try something a little different as their end of year show which opens on Friday 17th June.
The students graduating this year all have very different takes on the world of hats and headwear and amongst them have had some amazing successes already with winning prizes from the International Feltmaker’s Guild to exhibiting in Brighton Fashion Week using a wide range of fabrics from the traditional to the unusual including perspex and wood.
Four milliners that are studying at Leeds College of Art recently exhibited at Wetherby Races on May 19th, they included:
Ginger Nut Millinery which exhibited striking hats that reflect the quintessential English countryside incorporating English Tweed, fur, found animal skulls all, with an elegant dramatic twist. After graduating, Ginger Nut Millinery will be based in new art studios in Helmsley.
Up and coming designer John Westwood Hill, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the renowned milliner and Britain’s Next Top Model judge Louis Mariette. John’s work is cutting edge using the latest in technology to create hats that tell you if you have been in the sun too long or fantastic infrared paint for different looks depending on your location. John will be based in York but intends to continue to promote his work throughout the UK and internationally. After his feature in English Vogue last April John Westwood Hill is due to feature in Russian Vogue this September.
Dolly Millinery harks back to those delicious 1950’s with a nod to the Mad Men and a keen eye on sustainability, using vintage fabrics and found objects to create elegant contemporary pieces perfect for any occasion, be it the races or a christening. Dolly Millinery is based in Manchester.
And with a demanding few months completing her final collection, Jill Simpson whose hats are going to the semi finals of the Hat Designer of the Year awards in Paris. The awards which are organised by HAT Magazine will be judged by top players in the millinery world for a chance to win a stand at the Premiere Class trade show in Paris next year, which will be an exciting opportunity to launch a new business. Jill’s work has a surrealist inspiration and combines the beauty of felt, leather, knit and wood to create striking headwear.
The collections will be exhibited during the Leeds College of Art End of Year Show which is open to the public from Saturday 18 June, 10am-4pm and from Monday 20 June-Thursday 23 June, 9am-8pm.
