Sustainable Fairy

Leanne Cairns

United Kingdom

HATalk Issue 170: HATalk Competition 2020: Timeless – Meet the Winners

'Sustainable Fairy' hat is a concept inspired by last year's third Prize Winner- New Moon by Lorella Pierdicca - GaiaMaya. I was extremely drawn to the use of the 3D Pen after seeing New Moon and started out on a journey to explore how I could use traditional hat blocks to form new designs using a 3D Pen. Having also researched many 100% biodegradable materials I discovered that using PLA filament only, to create this hat would be a completely new way of creating a rigid but flowing sustainable hat design with the possibilities of using much more in my millinery.

Everything on the hat is freehand drawn over many hours and mastering the art of using the 3D Pen, in a loose and freehand way. I decided on using a temperature reactive PLA in blue that, when in hot temperatures will turn white. The concept being magical...like fairy magic!

As the hat is a framework of interconnecting lines to create the base, drawn onto a standard crown block, I then created individual lace like leaves small and large that all connect to the base using the PLA and 3D Pen to attach and firm up the structure. The leaves were also gently steamed to allow bends in various directions. Then a further pink was used to create swirling small roses and linework f for added interest.

I am passionate about using drawing and 3D pen art to create hats for a new innovative and sustainable approach to Millinery, especially if such things can be recycled after a period of use. Poly(lactic) acid (PLA) is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, PLA sometimes called polylactide, which can be produced by fermentation of renewable resources such as corn, cassava, potato and sugarcane and I intend to use it much more in Hats.

• PLA Temperature Change Color Series- Blue to White
• PLA Pink
• 3D Printing Pen.
• Steamer
• Crown Hat Block
• Acetate
• Clingfilm

• Freehand drawing with 3D Pen
• Used traditional Crown Block and upturned brim block to draw onto.
• Steamed leaves to bend in directions required.