Pride

Ulka Kulkarni

United Kingdom

• Pleated Sinamay Headpiece Project by Katherine Elizabeth

This headpiece was inspired by the pleated sinamay technique by Katherine Elizabeth in HATalk Issue 177 coupled with the rainbow hats created last year during the pandemic. The materials were ethically sourced as this is important to me. Buntal straw was chosen for the button base for its sheen and durability. The lining material was selected for the richness of the colours and the (proud as a) peacock feather pattern that fits with the name of the headpiece.

I envisioned an abstract design, using rainbow colours. Rainbows have several meanings and are significant to me for various reasons, from listening to ‘Sing a Rainbow’ sung on the radio by Peggy Lee during my childhood, to looking at them in the sky on a sunny rainy day, to the rainbow flag symbolising LGBTQ+ visibility, to the rainbow being adopted as a symbol of hope during the coronavirus outbreak.

The headpiece comprises pleated sinamay in the seven rainbow colours on a buntal straw button base. The arrangement of the sinamay pieces spiralling upwards represents hope and the movement in the headpiece signifies the confidence of the wearer. To be worn with Pride – hence the name.

• Sinamay
• Buntal straw
• Millinery wire
• Petersham
• Thread
• Cotton fabric
• Hat elastic

• Blocking of buntal straw button base
• Wiring of button base
• Handstitching of Petersham to inner edge of button base
• Pleating of sinamay
• Steaming pleated sinamay into shape
• Handstitching of pleated sinamay edges, each pleated sinamay piece, sinamay pieces together and to the base.