“When sweeping the floor or emptying the waste bin I often look at the mixture of stuff checking the discarded items, whether they are bits of packaging, remnants of fabrics from previous projects or items that have served their purpose in the hat making process and now are no longer required before the refuse bags are collected and end up in landfill.
It can be quite inspirational sometimes looking at ripped, torn or marked scraps of cloth, veiling, tulle or cuttings of a foundation canvas for example. Bits of cling film that was used to cover a block, kitchen foil that might have laid on the work surface while I stiffened some sinamay or felt are often among this melange. Also should I be sorting through boxes of dead stock, assessing whether anything can be salvaged, reused or recycled.
By using the traditional millinery skills and techniques that I regularly use during my day to day work and by applying some of them to these materials I am using, in an alternative way to their intended use. By experimenting with their individual properties and looking at how they can be combined. I am curious to see what can be achieved by overlaying, interweaving and manipulating an eclectic mix of fibres, colours and textures to make a hat or headpiece. To create something beautiful and elegant from things rescued from the waste bin, showing the fragility of life and yet giving them a new one.
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About Dillon Wallwork
Dillon is a prominent London based milliner with over 30 years experience in the industry. He creates high quality bespoke hats and couture headpieces.
Having studied fashion and design at Salisbury College of Art, Dillon moved to London joining one of England’s finest model millinery houses, Philip Somerville Ltd. Starting as a workroom assistant he was fortunate to learn all aspects of traditional couture millinery. Dillon rapidly progressed within the organisation and became Personal Assistant to Philip Somerville himself. In this role he gained tremendous experience of the millinery trade including overseeing the busy workroom, communicating with suppliers and liaising with international buyers of prestigious retail stores. He eventually became design director for the company, collaborating with leading designers across the UK. He has created bespoke millinery for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the late Diana Princess of Wales.
In 2008 Dillon formed his own company Dillon Wallwork Bespoke Hats and from his South London atelier he continues the ethos of creating stunning couture headpieces. His creations can be seen at many society events and he proudly boasts an enviable client list. His hats are hand-made, celebrating exceptional craftsmanship and outstanding quality with balance, proportion and timeless contemporary design.
Dillon is passionate about traditional haute couture millinery design and techniques. He generously shares his creative skills and extensive knowledge of model millinery, providing personal one to one tuition from his London studio, his home in South West France and delivering successful workshops in this country and other European destinations.