Jane Fryers is a British milliner who has led the innovative use of fish leather in contemporary hatmaking. She trained at the London College of Fashion and Kensington & Chelsea College before studying intensively with Rose Cory MBE. In 2005 she received a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), enabling her to undertake advanced training in traditional millinery skills and continue her studies with Rose Cory. The scholarship also opened doors to new opportunities, exhibitions, and collaborations that continue to influence her work today.

Jane has been a pioneer in the use of fish leather in millinery, a material she began exploring after seeing a photograph of a salmon‑skin bikini designed by Claudia Escobar. What started as a moment of curiosity developed into a sustained investigation into how this durable, sustainable material could be integrated into traditional millinery techniques. Her fish‑leather pieces have been exhibited internationally and were even presented to HM Queen Elizabeth II during the Diamond Jubilee year, prompting the memorable question of whether the material “smelled fishy” — it does not, she confirms.

Her work has received significant recognition, including first prize in the Italian Cappelli nel Mondo competition, second prize in the Feltmakers Design Competition, and a finalist position in The Hat Magazine’s Designer of the Year. Alongside her material research, Jane maintains a strong focus on upcycling and the creative reuse of existing textiles.

Jane also teaches at Central Saint Martins and other specialist private millinery schools, sharing her technical knowledge and enthusiasm for experimentation with both emerging and experienced makers.

In 2025, Jane published Keep It Under Your Hat: A Little Book of Linings, a practical yet playful guide that explores the selection, construction, and fitting of linings inside hats, further cementing her role as both a maker and an educator within the millinery community.

This podcast is hosted and produced by Lauren Ritchie for MillineryInfo