hatmakers

Hatmakers, often called milliners, are artisans who design, cut, and construct hats and other head coverings for fashion, ceremonial use, and everyday wear. The craft combines creative design with technical skills in shaping, blocking, and finishing materials such as felt, straw, and fabric. Milliners may work in specialty shops, fashion houses, or operate as independent designers.

Common techniques include blocking—molding material over shaped blocks to achieve the hat's crown and brim—followed by steaming, stiffening, trimming, and sewing. Materials range from felted wool or fur for formal felt hats, to straw and sinamay for sun hats, to fabric or leather for structured caps and helmets. Finishing touches often involve ribbons, bows, feathers, and discrete linings.

Hatmaking has long historical roots in Europe and other regions. By the late medieval and early modern periods, distinct professions of hatters and milliners developed, with guilds overseeing training and quality. The English term milliner arose from traders who supplied fashionable Milanese hats, and the term has persisted to describe those who design and make hats rather than sell only materials.

In modern times, milliners work across fashion and retail, ranging from bespoke artisans who create one-off pieces to designers within major fashion houses who craft seasonal collections. Training commonly involves apprenticeships or formal courses in millinery, pattern-making, and blocking techniques. Markets are global, with notable activity in London, Paris, Milan, and New York, and online platforms expanding access.

Common hat styles include fedoras, cloches, pillboxes, top hats, and wide-brim hats. Although many hats are mass-produced, the craft retains a significant share of high-end and ceremonial millinery, where fit and hand-finishing are valued. Hatmakers may collaborate with couturiers, photographers, or film studios to create prop or wardrobe pieces.