Tracey Tau is a Melbourne-based milliner, currently a Vice President of Millinery Australia, the creative behind TOOALI Millinery, and the new owner of The Essential Hat. Her journey into millinery began after a long career in the racing industry, where her passion for fashion and textiles inspired her to pursue hat-making. In 2013, she refined her skills at Kangan Institute, learning from leading Australian milliners such as Louise Macdonald, Serena Linderman, (the late) Paris Kyne, Melissa Jackson, Richard Nylon, and Rose Hudson. Her love for vintage fabrics led her to create truly unique hats for her own millinery brand – TOOALI – “The Only One Around Like It”.

Her creative process is intuitive, resulting in pieces that are as distinctive as the people who wear them. Her talent has earned her recognition as a Top 10 Finalist with the piece “Finderella” in the Millinery Australia Design Award in 2023.

 In 2023 Tracey became the new owner of The Essential Hat, taking the shop over from her long time millinery partner and collaborator Cathrine Ellen. In this episode Tracey also shares the background story of the transition and how Cathrine Ellen left the millinery industry after decades of leading one of the most popular hat and accessories shop in Melbourne and organising the MIMC -Melbourne International Millinery Competition since 2017.

Through her creativity, leadership, multitasking superpower and entrepreneurial spirit, Tracey Tau is shaping the future of Australian millinery and inspiring a new generation of hat makers and lovers.

This podcast is hosted and produced by Lauren Ritchie and edited by Maria Volkova for MillineryInfo

Saar Snoek is a talented milliner and felt textile artist based in the Netherlands. She is celebrated for her innovative use of felt and her ability to create captivating, organic sculptures and wearable art. Saar’s journey into the world of textiles began with a degree in painting from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. In 2015, she discovered feltmaking by chance and quickly fell in love with the medium’s versatility and tactile qualities.

Saar’s work is characterized by her use of natural materials, particularly wool, which she transforms into intricate and expressive pieces. Her creations range from wearable hats and headpieces to larger sculptural works that explore themes of nature and human connection. Saar’s art has been showcased in numerous exhibitions, including the World of WearableArt Awards in New Zealand and the HATalk Earth competition in the UK, where she won second prize.

The development of her millinery began after an introduction Marianne Jongkind.  She continued to explore millinery block, stiffening and wire techniques that have aided further development to her other work.  In 2024, Saar was the winner of the Milliners Competition and was invited to participate in a group show at The Met Gallery in New York. Her entry, inspired by the 1934 film “Riptide,” was praised for its contemporary reinterpretation and intricate craftsmanship. Saar’s skills allowed her to push the boundaries of traditional millinery and create a unique finish on the surface of the felt.

Saar continues to inspire with her creativity and passion for feltmaking, teaching masterclasses and sharing her knowledge with aspiring artists. Her work not only showcases her technical skill but also her deep connection to the natural world and her commitment to sustainable art practices.

Bronwyn Shooks returns to the podcast to share with us about her 2024 Millinery Australia Design Award-winning piece.  Find the first podcast with Bronwyn here, where she shares about her millinery education and mentor Jean Caroll.  In this episode, Brownyn speaks about creating the piece ‘A Galaxy of Wisdom’.

Brownyn is a theatrical millinery based in Sydney who has created pieces for musicals including Hamilton both the Australian and international tour, Mary Poppins & Juliet, Gaslight for Queensland Theatre Company just to name a few.

Josemieke Crebolder is the winner of the 2024 Nederlandse Hoeden Vereniging (Dutch Hat Association) competition. She lives and works in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.  Her journey into the world of hat-making is a testament to her passion for creativity and her ability to blend traditional techniques with innovative designs.

Josemieke’s artistic journey began with her early education at an art academy, where she first honed her creative skills. However, it wasn’t until later in life, with the unwavering support of her husband, that she rediscovered her creative spirit. His encouragement led her to make a significant investment in her passion for creating and making, paving the way for her career in millinery.

Her formal training continued at the Dutch Couture Academy, where she delved into the intricate world of tambour and embroidery. During an exploration of other arts she encountered Hat Couture by Marianne Jongkind, which opened the doors to the fascinating realm of hats. This experience allowed her to integrate her diverse skills, confirming the profound importance of making and creating in her life.

In 2024, Josemieke’s talents were recognized on a national stage when she won the prestigious competition with her design inspired by the flower Astrancia and the theme “Seize the Day.” Her award-winning piece was a masterful transformation of the Zeeland knot—a 17th-century status symbol—into a headpiece that embodies power and courage. The modest piece of jewellery, once part of a traditional Zeeland costume, was reimagined into a bold and courageous statement of artistry. Exploring various materials was crucial to this success, highlighting Josemieke’s innovation and skilled craftmanship.

Anne Tomlin, hailing from Hassocks, England, is a distinguished artisan specializing in bespoke floral creations. Armed with a Textiles degree from West Surrey College of Arts, she honed her craft further by delving into Millinery at The London College of Fashion, under the tutelage of the esteemed Marie O’Regan. Collaborating for over two decades with her creative counterpart, Bridget Bailey, they formed the renowned duo of Bailey and Tomlin, crafting exquisite hats for prestigious establishments across the UK, USA, and Japan.

Transitioning from the bustling landscape of large-scale production, Anne found solace in a tranquil retreat from London, temporarily stepping back from the artistic realm. However, her passion reignited, and she has since reclaimed her creative sanctuary. Now, Anne devotes her time to meticulously handcrafting floral wonders, blending traditional techniques with her innovative approaches cultivated through years of millinery and flower-making expertise.

Anne has recently shared her skills by writing and publishing a book titled “Making Silk Flowers”. The book includes clear step-by-step sequences with details of how to create beautiful flowers from a range of silk and millinery fabrics.

Delve into Anne’s world of floral artistry through her website and purchase a copy of her book at: https://www.annetomlin.com/product/making-silk-flowers/

The Milliners Guild was proud to hold its first international millinery competition in 2022.

First Prize: Saar Snoek
Second Prize: Candy Warhol
Third Prize: Emily Bronwen and Vanessa J Lopez
People’s Choice: Kate Nikolson

First Prize: The Randal Alan First Prize: “Roll For Initiative” – Allison Lyndes of Frontier Millinery
Second Prize: “Queen Bee” – Karen Geraghty of Mind Your Bonce Millinery
Third Prize: “Confection” – Tommy Cobau

Denise Innes-Spencer is a milliner and teacher based in Liverpool.  She founded The British School of Millinery in 1996.  The school offers face-to-face and online courses for all levels from beginners through to experienced practitioners.

She began her career as a pattern cutter and spent time working at what is now known as Angels Costumes before setting up her own freelance business and training as a teacher.  She learnt her millinery skills from the legendary Rose Cory and attended classes for many years.

In 2017 Denise wrote and published her first book which focuses on skill development for bridal headdresses with detailed, illustrated instructions that explore wires, knitted wires, beads and diamantes.

She is a regular contributor to The Hat Magazine sharing techniques across a range of materials.  Denise currently teaches millinery at John Moores University and has been a guest teacher at London Hat Week and Barcelona Hat Week alongside working with The Brain Charity in Liverpool.

You can purchase Denise’s book Tiara Headdresses at  https://www.thebritishschoolofmillinery.com/product-page/tiara-headdresses-by-denise-innes-spencer

Pick up the latest copy of The Hat Magazine or read it online at https://www.thehatmagazine.com/

Janet Linville began her millinery career in 1979, when she started working on the Casino shows in Atlantic City. From there she went on to work for Woody Shelp, The Santa Fe Opera and in 1997 took on the role of milliner at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Originally studying Home Economics, Clothing and Textiles Janet completed a BA in Theater before finding her way into industry.  She began making hats after landing a costume job in Atlantic City before moving to New York in 1982. She began teaching fashion millinery at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1987.  The course was founded by Anne Albrizio and she got Janet involved in the teaching team.

While working freelance from her own studio Janet made has for movies including My Best Friend’s Wedding, the Big Apple Circus and Broadway shows which included Lion King, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast.   In 1997 she had the opportunity to take on the role of the in-house milliner at the MET Opera. For this work, she has created pieces for iconic shows that have graced the New York stage including pieces that have been set on fire, dumped in water and thrown across the stage.

In 2022 Janet retired from her role at the MET however continues her role teaching at FIT.