The Process - A glimpse into how hats are made
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We made a hat for our friend and photographer Phil Bernard back in 2016, and he spent 3 days at the studio with us in order to document the process. We still work the same way to this day, making one hat at a time!
Comments
Renee Friedman —
Hi, I loved viewing the process of hat making from the great pictures you posted. I almost feel like I could make a hat from what you’ve posted. And I have a hat reshaping question. I have a safari hat woven from straw or similar fiber. It’s shape is like a western hat but it was too close to the evaporative cooling system & it lost its shape.I don’t have hat blocks but I have a Styrofoam manequin head like you’d put a wig on, to hold it’s shape. I’m going to try reshaping it, using that head & a little steam, my hands & a bunch of ingunity! Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to do this without a proper hat form or tools? TY in advance 4 any help
Renee Friedman —
Hi Montreal, Many years ago my mom told me of a cousin named Mae Briette who lived in Sioux Saint Marie & was a Millner. She & my mom often traveled into Canada & gathered family together to make quilts with remnants from suits & hats, for the cold winters. They would visit family there & family would come to reunions 60+ years ago at my Grandma Rose Neering & Gramp’s William Groulex’s house on Atlantic St. in Riverdale Ill. I met our Canadian Kin. there & they were all very loving, kool talented people. I’ve wanted to travel to where my Canadian relatives live ever since. But I haven’t bc my mom passed when I was very young & I lost touch with that side of my family. I have a big box of photos taken a century ago by a fam. photographer & I’d love to return them to the families.I’m name dropping & hoping these names sound familiar & family can reconnect. People in the same bloodline pass their talents on to their children. I’m talented in clothing design & interested in millinary. I made Barbie Doll clothes at age 7 & have taylored my clothes since, out of necessity bc I’m 5’10 & had to so things fit. That tallent was passed to me, to my hands from generations back & has manifested in my ability to alter clothes make jewelry, hair deco & extensions, pottery from a wheel, culinary creations & even helped build a house. And I’ve made a living with my talents! That’s why I’m hopeful 1 of my Canadian relatives with similiar talents will check yr website & stumble onto my email & reach out! I’m a Great Grand Daughter of Napolian Groulex if anyone recognizes that name as their Grand or Great Grandfather, I’m Vivian Renee Michaelson Friedman aka Cookie, my mom was Agnes Exzeldia Neering-Michaelson. TY Family…
Lucille Bouchard —
J’admire ce travail de chapellerie, vos créations sont magnifiques. J’aimerais bien aller visiter votre boutique en cette période de cadeaux des fêtes.