For the 2018 HATalk Hat Making Competition, we challenged you to create an original hat or headpiece using the concept of ‘Fusion’ as the starting point for your design. This was an abstract theme which could be defined and interpreted in any number of ways.

After much debate and careful scrutiny of all 177 entries, our international panel of judges – Denise Innes-Spencer of The British School of Millinery, Monique Lee Hylands-White of X Terrace, Carole Maher of The Sydney Millinery Company and HATalk Editor Becky Weaver – came to their final decisions…

Overall Winner: Sandy Aslett

Category: Modern

Name of Hat: Cosmic Concertina

Judges’ Comments:
This headpiece is made with a non-traditional approach using ancient materials and craftsmanship such as waxed paper and gilding techniques. The concept demonstrates the theme of fusion beautifully. Sandy has shown that paper can work as well as fabric to form an aesthetically pleasing shape for a headdress. The accuracy of the pleating and neat finish show solid workmanship.

View entry HERE.

Prize: 1-week Residential Millinery Workshop at Chateau Dumas in France.

First Runner Up (Modern): Rachel Henry

Name of Hat: Rosa Synthesis

Judges’ Comments:
Beautifully made with exceptional technical skills which were easy to identify in the detailed images provided. The innovative use of real flowers with new technology and smart fabrics is a brilliant example of fusion. Rachel’s headpiece is well balanced, on trend and very wearable.

View entry HERE.

Prize: £500 to spend at Parkin Fabrics.

First Runner Up (Traditional): Lucy Bowler

Name of Hat: Circus

Judges’ Comments:
The artistic use of colours is almost like the blending of paint on a canvas but is even better in three dimensional form. The sinamay pieces, and the gaps in between, illustrate the movement of a circus and the dynamic of its seamless, fluid form. It’s hard to block this kind of shape and make it flow with such elegance while concealing stitching and wires, but Lucy has managed it beautifully.

View entry HERE.

Prizes: £250 Guy Morse-Brown Hat Blocks voucher

£150 to spend at The Trimming Company

£100 Petershams Millinery Supplies voucher

Second Runner Up (Modern): Ani Stafford-Townsend

Category: Modern

Name of Hat: Electric Storm

Judges’ Comments:
This headpiece has great lines, direction and movement. It’s creative and quirky and incorporates modern technology and materials in a stylishly simple, yet technically advanced, design. Ani has come up with a unique take on the theme and transformed her concept into wearable art.

View entry HERE.

Prize: £250 House of Adorn voucher.

Joint Second Runner Up (Traditional): Terry Weston

Judges’ Comments:
The shape and story behind the design are beautiful and poetic. The felt work and choice of colours give the hat both a warmness and a sense of old times. The positive and negative space contrast, emphasised by the colours, create a dramatic look. It’s a simple concept with a simple shape but Terry has obviously put a lot of thought into its construction.

View entry HERE.

Prize: £75 worth of millinery supplies from Atelier Millinery.

Joint Second Runner Up (Traditional): Wendy Diggles

Judges’ Comments:
Simple yet elegant, the shape, line and form of this hat are just right. The unusual combination of straw and metal works well, illustrating fusion on a material and a personal level. Wendy has demonstrated excellent workmanship in the construction of both the traditional millinery and the wire work elements of this piece.

View entry HERE.

Prize: 5 yards of premium pinokpok from Judith M Millinery Supplies.

Public Prize First Place: Araceli Sancho

Total Number of votes: 1001

View entry HERE.

Prize: $100 worth of hat making materials from Hatters Millinery Supplies.

Public Prize Second Place: Laia Molina Tarruella

Total Number of votes: 670

View entry HERE.

Prize: 1 Year Subscription to HATalk e-magazine.

Public Prize Third Place: Susana Mattanó

Total Number of votes: 658

View entry HERE.

Prize: £25 How2hats Voucher.