Have you ever met a milliner? Do you know what this word mean? Some of my friends never heard about millinery in their life. I guess that it is quite common if you are not into fashion and never heard of Vivienne Westwood or Philip Treacy.
When Vanja Jocic contacted me at the end of last year and offered to make me a couture felt hat, I was very happy. I had been on a lookout for a classic fedora felt hat for some time. But I never found a piece that would be original, unique and of a premium quality. You can find cheap hats online and in department stores but those are made on assembly lines. I was looking for a hat that would last for years. I did not want to get the same hat that half of Geneva was wearing nor pay a lot of money for a hat that looks unique but is not handcrafted.
Vanja Jocic is a young Australian lady that learned the art of couture millinery from famous milliner Prudence who makes hats for Viviene Westwood, Balenciaga and other famous designers. Vanja uses traditional milliner’s blocks and tools as well as high quality fur felts to create hats. While sheep’s wool is used to make more affordable felt hats, Vanja uses felt of the highest quality which is made of cashmere, hare, beaver or rabbit fur. Fur felt is supple, tight and has a beautiful shine. So it is no surprise that hats made of fur felt hold shape better and last longer.
We visited Vanja’s home atelier to document the process of making my hat. Can you believe that it takes 3 days to make one hat? After we chose color and ribbon, Vanja shaped crown of the hat on a wooden block. That took one day. Shaping and cutting the brim took another day. Than she had to sew them together by hand and add the ribbon. If your head is oversized (like mine), Vanja has to stretch the hat on a stretcher. Which adds more time as it is a delicate process. Hatmaking can be compared to meditation. You are invited to calm down your thoughts and concentrate on what is right in front of you.
What I liked the most about the whole process was how personal it was. You really get “your own unique hat”. The best way to reach Vanja is through her Instagram account @byvanjajocic as her website is under construction. Her couture hats start at CHF195. Please, bear in mind that the price depends on the type of hat you wish to create, material and size of your head.
Amy
22.01.2017I LOVE HATS. So cool to see a peak into the BTS of the process of creating them. Felt hats are such a game changer!
xx, Amy
http://www.theluxilook.com
Lindsey
22.01.2017That hat looks AMAZING on you! And wow, what an incredible process to get it made! I’m so glad you shared photos of the process – really cool. That’s incredible it takes 3 days to make!
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
~Lindsey
http://have-clothes-will-travel.com/
Dolce Nina
21.01.2017Thanks for sharing! xoxo
kenza
21.01.2017Wow the hat is really nice and the hand made is impressive !
Great article 🙂
Kenza from http://travelwithkenza.blogspot.fr/
Naznin
21.01.2017This is such an interesting process! I love the hat!!
xx
http://www.idressfortheapplause.com
gail
21.01.2017The hat is very pretty !
http://www.thequinoxfashion.com/
Meredith
21.01.2017That is so cool to see part of the process! Thanks for sharing!
Didier
20.01.2017That looks like such a fun experience! I love hats but I never had someone made me one to measure before! I should give that a try!
-Didier
http://www.didieryhc.com
Irina
20.01.2017Loving the post! Have a wonderful weekend:)
irinathayer.com
Miri
20.01.2017Thank you, Irina. Have a wonderful weekend as well!
X
Miri
Tabitha
20.01.2017I think the hat looks pretty on you!
http://www.heelsandbeyond.com/
Miri
20.01.2017Thank you so much, Tabitha!
X
Miri