“I decided to look around for materials to hand within my studio. I have so many felt cutoffs from projects within the films I make for, bags and bags, my “Just in case “treasure trove in fact. But these were specifically from the current project and I thought it would be a lovely idea to simply join the seams with a silver embroidery thread along the same process as The Japanese Kintsugi art form that repairs broken china with gold work, I would highlight the seams rather than try to disguise them.
I patchworked the crown and then the brim together, with very little change to the shapes that the cut offs were originally. I then blocked and reshaped the felt before sewing the sections together.
I believe that there is always a use for the discarded materials within my work, and that surely has to be how we all must direct our waste products, so that it doesn’t add to the mountains of landfill.
As a theatrical milliner, I am often asked to make the hats or headdressess as close in process as possible, to the era they were originally made in. I am constantly reminded of the history of headwear, what we have learnt from the past eg the stiffeners containing mercury, or the danger of inhaling fur dust past milliners or hatters encountered.
The industry has in the past plundered birdlife, and been responsible for the death of thousands of animals, for the sake of fashion. We can as individuals be conscious and aware day to day, to play our small part in not squandering the materials we now have at our fingertips. Not taking for granted the quality of the products, valuing them even as remnants. The markets sourcing and inventing new alternatives to using real fur, feather or leather is thankfully ever growing. They in turn are using waste products from other industries. These products are becoming invaluable to the Film and Tv industries as we strive to be more sustainable and use alternatives wherever possible.
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Sophie completed an Art Foundation followed by a BA Hons. in Sculpture at De Montfort University. Her first millinery job was for the BBC during her foundation year. This background of art and sculpture is apparent in much of Sophie’s work.
Having been drawn to and collecting vintage hats for years, Sophie trained in Couture Millinery with Rose Cory. She then spent four years in the Hat and Jewellery department at the Royal Opera House, where she honed her skills both in Millinery and Jewellery.
Sophie later began working in Costume, running the Costume department for “Riverdance the Show” (Liffey Company).
Since 2015, she has specialised in Millinery for Film and TV, in-house as part of the Costume team or from her home studio. She is a member of Bafta, The British Hat Guild and The British Millinery Association.