It's always a thrill for me to work on a new collection for the Fashion & Textile Museum when I find out about an upcoming show. Designing hats is great, but also love to work on the shoot to promote them. I usually begin by delving into fashion illustration books. For this one, I was greatly influenced by two recent reads: Mary Quant's and Barbara Hulanicki's autobiographies. Both books feel like a wonderful immersion into 1960s London. Additionally, I was lucky to visit the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A a couple of years ago. I've also grown up with my mother's tales of the Rainbow Room and the Roof Gardens of the great Big Biba store... She's always spoken about the place as though there was some kind of magic to it. The few Biba items she's managed to keep are treasured proof that this mythical place ever was. Hence why it's long had an influence on my imagination. A few years ago, I even made a leopard print turban for a very glam photoshoot deeply set by Biba esthetics.
My rain hats were mainly inspired by Mary Quant's fun fashion and her use of new materials. The plain hats are made from waxed cotton and will be very wearable with any outfit. Hoping you are able to visit the show and that you like the hats!
"For the Chelsea boutiques of the mid-1960s, individuality was the order of the day. Changing attitudes towards gender and sexuality, framed by the socio-political climate of the time, inspired new ideas, freedom of expression and an opposition to establishment values. Fuelled by this creative exploration, a generation of radical young designers emerged, catering to an elite group of artists, aristocrats and musicians: The Beautiful People."
Beautiful People: The Boutique in 1960s Counterculture
1 October 2021 – 13 March 2022
