If I close my eyes and think of water, a sense of peace envelopes my soul.

Sitting on the beach, feeding on the sound of waves crashing.
Recharging one’s batteries by a small pool, on a sunny day.
Reading a good book, in a patio, by the tranquil fountain.

Or resting one’s tired travelling feet, in a garden, on the edge of a pond. I’ve always been fascinated with the beauty of ponds and lakes throughout Asia, hence choosing it as my main source of inspiration for this year’s hat.

The water is recreated by using the Japanese Seigaiha wave pattern. The cubic cristals are also a reference to the mosaic ceramic tiles used for creating beautiful fountains and pools all over the world.

Koi fish are one of the many magic creatures that water gifts to us and the main characters in every Japanese pond garden.

I hope that when glancing at this hat people get a sense of inner peace and zen. As these moments are to us as vital as water, especially in these troubling and volatile times.

Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.