“I was donated some retired climbing rope some time ago with a view to experimenting with it to create hats and hat trimmings. I wanted to explore the natural coiling properties and movement of rope to see if it could be used in couture methods of making millinery.
The woven patterns in the rope reminded me of the vintage straw millinery braid that I have collected over the years – which is becoming increasingly difficult to source now. Experiments with the rope showed me that it was possible to make a full hat from it if I kept the hat small (the rope is heavier than braid).
The rope has been cleaned thoroughly and de-cored, and I have treated it like straw millinery braid to create a pillbox hat. The rope ‘braid’ is hand sewn onto a vintage straw base (unseen) and the trimming is finished with vintage peachbloom felt offcuts and feathers left over from another project, and the lining is made from upcycled vintage silk. No new materials were bought to make this hat.
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Sally-Ann Provan is an award-winning milliner based in Edinburgh.
She creates distinctive modern millinery exploring form and surface pattern, using modern technologies and traditional techniques. She creates bespoke millinery for private clients for weddings, the racing season and special events, as well as headwear for stage and screen.
After an Honours degree in Jewellery, Sally trained in couture millinery under Rose Cory the late Queen Mother's milliner and at the British School of Millinery, production millinery under Mitzi Lorenz, and in theatrical millinery with The Royal Opera House and with master hatter Jane Smith. Her clients include members of the Royal Family including HRH The Princess of Wales, HRH Princess Beatrice and HRH Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall; former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon; and mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins.
Sally also makes hats for stage and screen for The BBC; Netflix, Scottish Ballet; and Scottish Opera and one of her hats was worn by leading lady Brooke Shields in the Netflix hit film ‘A Castle for Christmas’.
“I mostly make hats to order meaning I don’t carry large quantities of stock or materials, I buy high quality vintage materials and trimmings where possible, and am increasingly using these to make one-offs and limited edition pieces. It is important to me to embed sustainability into my working practices – minimising waste wherever possible and exploring alternative materials in new ways.”