Lai Symes
Lai Symes is a traditionally trained couture milliner who makes luxury, contemporary headwear. Her eye for design is joyful, sophisticated and individual. Lai trained in London with Rose Cory, milliner and Royal Warrant holder to the late Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and has specialised in making bespoke hats in the UK for over 20 years. Lai is a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Scholar and her work is known for its artistry, customer care and high-quality finish.
HATS TELL A STORY
“I love the expressive power of hats; what they say about you and how they make you feel. That is my millinery language. The sourcing of the materials I use, from the hand carved wooden blocks to the handwoven straws made by skilled craftspeople, also plays a large part in what I do. Most of my designs are one-of-a-kind. Each hat is a unique collaboration; a story of passed down craftsmanship, shared skills and imagination.”