Cindy processes sing the felt bodies
For issue 55 we travelled to Pensylvania in America to meet the people behind The Bollman Hat Company the oldest hat maker in America………….
Mr Don Rongione joined the company in 1982 'Controller', at the time the Bollman family were almost at retirement age. Working his way up to become CEO and Chairman in 2002.
There was a strong culture of ownership and family associated with the Bollman name, and so he proposed that they adopt an ‘employee stock ownership plan’, known as a ESOP.
In 1985 this was accepted and an interest in the Bollman Hat Company, as part of an ESOP, was offered to all employess with over six months employment.
Read this fascinating story in issue 55 – available as a bundle -
to make a saving take 3 x magazines from those listed below for £20 or 4 x magazines at £25 postage included (UK only at present).
19, 20, 26, 36, 49, 50, 55, 57, 60, 62, 72, 73, 74 – Visit the website to read their contents, or you can ask for ‘a selection’.
Just drop me an e-mail at [email protected] with your selected 3/4 x copies.
NEW TO US…….. is Linktree.
If you hit the link above it will take you to our website, our subscribe page, an institutional link for colleges and libraries, PLUS A FREE 24-hours dip into the archive.
Available till Jan 31st – Enjoy!!
The film shows Cindy (who has worked at the company for 37 years) taking the fragile bodies, and putting them through heat and steam to create a felt hood for blocking.
@bollmanhatcompany
@the_hat_archive
@exacteditions
#hats
#woolfelt
#woolfeltproduction
Graduate Shows
Justin Smith changed the format of the graduate shows at the RCA that year to include his dark, mesmerising presentation of his collection entitled “Le Cirque Macabre’.
Now based in Islington as a maker/retailer of bespoke headwear Justin has taken on major projects in the cinema including hats for ‘Cruella’ in Maleficent.
Additions to my ‘Five to Watch Post’
Sarah Cant – took two separate career paths, she is a couture milliner, making bespoke, whilst creating two collections each year; and heads the team at the Kensington & Chelsea campus for Morley College.
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These articles are available online by subscription to www.thehatarchive.com
A Moment of Celebration!
A Moment of Celebration!
As The Royal College of Art Fashion & Millinery Department, press and buyers applaud their talented creators. That year the show was held in Change Street, London E1 in, I believe, Rachel Whiteread’s empty studio taking over the entire three floors. Graduates either participated in the live show or took space within the building.
The students that year were tutored by:
Flora McLean: Senior Fashion Lecturer in Accessories, Footwear and Millinery - and
Vivienne Lake: Technical Assistant in headwear and millinery
The entire coverage of the RCA designers and end of year show can be found in Issue 74 of TheHatArchive.com or a hard copy can be ordered through the website.
This week, from 30th June – 2nd July the students of Kensington* and Chelsea College will be presenting their final collections at the Art Workers Guild in Queen Square, London.
Doors open from 2–8pm Wed, Thurs 12–8pm, Friday 12–6pm
There is no booking necessary but the number of visitors will be limited.
With no Private View it won’t be quite the same as the last public display in 2019, so we thought we’d send you a past memory of that show and the amazing designers who were launched into the spotlight that evening.
The film begins with hats designed for the…..
LONGINES: A MILLINERY PROJECT
With Rosie Tapner, Rachel Trevor-Morgan and Kensington & Chelsea College.
Where the HNC students were invited to create a bespoke hat for Rosie Tapner, a friend of the brand, for her to wear at Royal Ascot.
For more than 15 years Carole at The Hat Archive visited the college and spoke with every HNC graduate throughout that time… And you’d be very surprised at the number of top names in our industry today that this includes.
Go to TheHatArchive.com to read more……
*Kensington & Chelsea College has since been taken over by Morley College.
We are relishing being at Royal Ascot this week!
We are relishing being at Royal Ascot this week soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the fabulous outfits, particularly the headwear. Summer issues within The HAT archive cover each of our previous visits to ascot over an 18 year period. It’s fascinating to look back on how styles have changed and the big influences that have gone on to inspire future headwear design.
It’s easy to subscribe to The HAT archive for instant access to all pages of issues 1-74 of The HAT magazine. Visit www.thehatarchive.com for more details. And if you’re at Royal Ascot this year come and say hi to Carole and The HAT archive 🐎
