Sharon Bainbridge
Sharon studied Law and worked in recruitment before retraining first in textiles, then millinery through the HNC and City & Guilds courses. Awarded the Medal of Excellence from City & Guilds and a finalist in The Hat Magazine’s, Hat Designer of the Year shortly after completing the HNC. Sharon began a bespoke millinery business in 2002 and ran short courses in millinery and textiles whilst beginning her academic career.
Sharon has taught millinery in both further and higher education. She was the HNC Millinery, Course Leader at Leeds College of Art, developing future milliners and new businesses, through extensive live projects, strong enterprise and design skill development.
Sharon has collaborated with Hat Works the Museum of Hatting delivering four exhibitions, and museums in Halifax and Leeds working with their archives as inspiration with students and designer practitioners. In 2013, she was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Scholarship to research millinery in museums across Europe.
Sharon currently teaches in Nottingham on Costume Design & Construction Degree.