SS26 | Behind the Hat – Ode to Artistry

This year’s collection came from a reaction to the world around us. We’re surrounded by so much technology these days, and I felt a real need to express what it means to be human, to make something beautiful by hand. 

It’s about artistry, collaboration and connection. Craftsmanship is my way of life, so this is a celebration of everything that happens behind the hat.

I grew up in a world where we were always making, building and decorating things (and before technology was in every pocket). That’s where my love of craft began. Behind every finished hat is a whole process, shaped by so many talented artisans whose skills continue to inspire me. 

When you wear a piece that’s been steamed, blocked and stitched by hand over 20 hours, you can feel it. It’s tactile, grounded and a quiet rebellion against all the digital noise. You’re not just wearing a couture headpiece, you’re wearing a story. 

I feel incredibly lucky to work with designers, stylists and photographers, all of whom form such a generous creative community and contribute to bringing my visions to life. There’s something special in that shared energy, the way ideas evolve naturally when we all come together.

I particularly love having the opportunity to work professionally with one of my oldest friends, Dorrie McVeigh. She’s a fantastic photographer with a real knack for turning my vision into reality and creating worlds around the hats I design. Dorrie and I have been shooting my collections together for years, whether it's on the turquoise coastline of Marseille, where she resides, or the rainy streets of Knightsbridge late at night. Working with Dorrie is always a very advantageous adventure! 

I also wouldn’t be able to style my hats so beautifully without the support of my friends and neighbours in Notting Hill, who generously lend me the most fabulous clothes for my photoshoots. In particular, working with Amanda Thompson Couture, who is just over the road from me, provides me with an endless supply of glorious, handmade gowns and garms. Amanda and I have been collaborating for years, and we always have so much fun styling together and drawing inspiration from one another's crafts. 

So when you see a couture hat, there’s always so much more than meets the eye. It’s the many hands and minds behind it that bring the real magic to traditional millinery.

Photography by Dorrie Mcveigh

@dorrie.mcveigh.photo