Alexandra Sulzynska – Poland/Portugal

Red Avocado

Description

Red Avocado Hat is the first hat I ever made. As a formed fashion designer my approach to design was based on transforming 3D objects into flat 2D patterns. And this is how my brain was trained to work: transform 3D into 2D. While discovering my love for hats and learning how to make them I found hat-making very challenging: surprisingly, the wooden moulds seemed to be extremely limiting. I decided to search for inspiration and guidance and I connected perfectly with the spatialism as I felt the artists of that movement had a similar mind flow to mine. I felt especially for Paolo Scheggi’s work as it challenges light, texture, shape. I found it extremely exciting how one can balance light and play with perspective by using only one colour. I personally adore the perfect material, which is the high quality merino felt (feels like furfelt but it has a sponginess) and I decided to keep it clean and play with the balance by giving the hats a playful shape. The hat changes depending on the viewer/wearer perspective and light. Maintaining its balance thanks to the purity of shape, roundness and the beauty and texture of the material.

While making my fist hat I wanted it to be different. I dreamt about a piece of art that is not grandiose but gives a notion of character and class. I was looking for an equilibrated shape, interesting colour and surprising form that will go with a pair of jeans as well as with a cocktail dress.

Materials

• merino wool felt
• grosgrain ribbon (sweat band)
• wire for the brim

Techniques

• hat blocking
• machine sewing
• hand sewing