“Sustainability is integral to our lives, and millinery is inherently sustainable—slow fashion using natural materials with minimal plastic waste. Most hats are biodegradable and carefully crafted. Yet, in a world of excess, bespoke services require constant material purchases—feathers, straws, and fabrics—often leaving us with unused remnants. While many couriers offset their carbon footprint, excess materials from minimum order quantities and fabric remnants still contribute to waste.
With our stockroom overflowing, we set out to use our scraps rather than simply collect them. Larger fabric pieces were easy to incorporate, but small offcuts—sinamay remnants, project ribbons, and leftover blocking materials—posed a challenge. Instead of discarding them, we saw an opportunity for creativity.
This led to our zero-waste collection, crafted entirely from existing materials. As we worked, more scraps were generated, but rather than letting them pile up, we continuously reused them. Eventually, our baskets were empty—a triumph over waste.
From this effort, our ‘Something from Smithereens’ collection was born, named for the tiny fabric fragments transformed into new designs. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and will not be available for bespoke orders, preserving the collection’s sustainable essence.
These designs emerged from waste, not traditional principles, proving that sustainability enhances creativity rather than compromising it. By rethinking boundaries, we’ve shown that even the smallest scraps have value. Environmental responsibility and design can coexist beautifully, demonstrating that true creativity lies in making something extraordinary from what might otherwise be discarded.
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