THE ART OF THE HAT

Manasi Joseph

Hats/Headwear have been around since time immemorial. The primitive humans, used animal skin to cover their heads, to avoid injury from falling rocks, weapons and other harmful elements. Since ancient times women were required to cover their heads while attending religious ceremonies and rituals using veils, caps and scarves.
Later wearing hats or headwear became a symbol of social status and authority and mostly Royals and Elites wore them. Gradually wearing of hats found its unique space among people from all walks of lives so does the emergence and popularity of millinery and it also paved way for the evolution of hats as an art form.
By 20th century hats became a statement of fashion and style and it continues to do so even today with designer hats being the latest in vogue.
A TRIP DOWN THE MEMORY LANE
Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, Oakville hosted an exhibit named Art of the Hat, which offered a glimpse not only into the fashionable lives of Ontario women in the twentieth century but also the beauty, workmanship and history of millinery as both a craft and form of expression.
Hats from the Speir’s collections and Oakville Museum’s permanent collection are featured at the exhibit.
Flower Hats
Flower hats are made by layering petals and leaves. The ribbon on hat forms are made from starched net. Milliners cut shapes out of organza and satin which they later curls crimps as well as paints and stiffen so that it looks like real petals and leaves. The patterns of flowers and foliage are arranged in a manner that gives depth and dimension to the hat.

Women’s hats are often considered as accessories that complement an outfit.
Milliners
Hats have their own class of craftsmanship and artistry. Hats are designed, constructed and trimmed by people known as milliners. There are no set rules on how to design a hat and most of the time milliners use their instinct, intuition and experience creates a beautiful shape with materials, themes and techniques such as draping, wiring and steaming to create hats