Summer 2024
London Hat Walk 2024
by chris garner
The last London Hat Walk I did was in 2019 after a busy week of taking part in the amazing courses that were on offer during London Hat Week.
Each walk has been different in its route, but this one felt different. Perhaps where I am as a person is why.
The day started early for me. Finishing work in the early hours of Sunday morning to then wake up and catch the train to London from Kent then back again to travel home to Brighton. Let’s just say when I arrived at the train station and the coffee shop wasn’t open, I wasn’t impressed.
I am sure it was on everyone’s mind, and I too was relieved when the sun wasn’t behind the clouds. I think it put a spring in everyone’s step. The wind however was a force to be reckoned with. We can’t have it all and we never seem to be happy with whatever we have.
Arriving at St James Church in Piccadilly I met up with founding, current and new British Hat Guild members for a group photo.
It was lovely to put names to faces and without realising it I met a hero of mine, for the first time in person, that got me fascinated in hats when I was a young boy, sat in a cinema in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Her famous hat that appeared in Titanic literally made me sit up in my seat, and see the importance of a hat, an entrance, and a quirky line. Jo Willis, thank you for that moment you helped to create many years ago.
I always get a little nervous when I am in the presence of another member who also helped cement my decision in taking my hat making career a little further. Mister Jones, a gentleman and on the day superbly stylish.
As we gathered for our picture, I noticed something that made me feel great and I am sure most would agree. There was a sense of community.
This sense of community only grew as the day went on and something I believe we should grow and nurture.
Community is so important as are events like London Hat Week, London Hat Walk and on this day, the 7th of April 2024, World Hat Walk. A day where across the globe many celebrate hats and marked 10 years since the first walk took place in Barcelona, Spain. Proof that gathering as a community and putting foot to pavement with our hats at a jaunty angle, only benefits the industry, and gets people talking about hats.
CLICK and before you knew it the crowd of hat goers was growing.
The crowd grew and St James courtyard was bustling with an array of colour, people, and personalities from every walk of life. Professional hat makers to hobbyists. People who appreciate fashion from all timelines. The old and most importantly the young, the future generation of creatives and hopefully milliners. There was music playing and that feeling of community became greater and greater.
There were old friends I haven’t seen for a long time, and it felt good to hug it out. Everyone was curious about one another and their background. Personally, it was great to talk shop with others instead of to oneself, alone in the studio, which often we milliners are. It was also lovely to hear people meet the people that inspire them. The energy was completely positive and contagious.
We set off from St James Church and piqued the interest of the public who were captivated by the colour, headwear galore, and the placards displaying “This is London Hat Walk!”
They stopped and stared as we marched down Piccadilly, turning into Burlington Arcade, past Lock and Co where people admired the wonderful collection of hats designed by fellow British Hat Guild member Awon Golding. Off towards St James Palace, and eventually leading onto the Mall which was lined with world flags. If only the world could come together like we hat makers. Wouldn’t that be peaceful?
Down the Mall we went towards Buckingham Palace and onto the steps of the Victoria Memorial, where we stood shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, brim to peak with one another and then click, click, click the 2024 World Hat Walk was captured in London.
A community of people who all share the same love for everything hats. It made me smile and I was reminded of something I had forgotten. My love for hats.
Chris Garner
Julian Garner Headwear