This month we interviewed English milliner Sharon Bainbridge. This what she had to say.
I became interested in millinery quite subconsciously really. I loved wearing hats as a New Romantic in the 1980's whilst studying for my law degree. I have always been fascinated by fashion starting buying Vogue when I was 11 and was drawn to the way a hat completed the look in the collections of Vivienne Westwood etc. When I was heavily pregnant with my first son, I had to go to a family wedding and found a wonderful Sandra Phillips hat which was the spark.On moving to the North of England I retrained in textiles and began to see the many possibilities in creating 3D pieces, so began a millinery course.
I made some hats whilst on my textiles course, then started to train with couture milliner Peter Kingston Youel in 1999 at Leeds College of Art & Design. After completing this I also studied the City & Guilds Millinery courses in Huddersfield to focus my skills whilst setting up business.
I made some hats whilst on my textiles course, then started to train with couture milliner Peter Kingston Youel in 1999 at Leeds College of Art & Design. After completing this I also studied the City & Guilds Millinery courses in Huddersfield to focus my skills whilst setting up business.
I have been a milliner for 6 years, I also teach millinery at Leeds College of Art & Design and initially taught textiles as well.
The inspiration for my designs comes from many different sources. Sometimes the materials lead you to a hat design, sometimes a new block shape. I am also influenced by films from old 50's classics to the wonderful visuals in Hong Kong cinema to sci fi films like Dune and Blade Runner. A walk on the Yorkshire Moors can be as inspiring as anything though.
One of my favourite commissions was for a regular customer who likes to create an elegant stir at the races. I had recently discovered the joys of working with wire to create sculptural forms and she was eager to try something radical. So a sweeping shape was created to work on top of a small cap, the shape was covered with silver grey ribbon and then woven with silver organza ribbon, it was worn with a silver shift dress and was much admired apparently.
My style is a mix of my textiles background and my love of uncluttered clean shapes. So my hats are usually simply trimmed and the shape is the focus, I also use a lot of crin in my work.
I make hats for a broad spectrum of customers, mother of the bride, race goers, Royal Garden Parties, occasionally winter hats but those are usually for Art Galleries.
I love working with felts and straws I am not overly keen on sinamay unless it is unstiffened, where I then dye it and create free form shapes. I also like to use vintage finds and am trying to build up my knowledge to use more eco friendly fabrics such as hemp or recycled fabrics. At the moment I do use a lot of crin and am unsure of its eco credentials so will need to find a new solution. I am constantly seeking and trying out new ways of working so I think that my work and way of working is changing all the time.
I have two sons of 11 and 13 who keep me very busy and two rescue dogs that I love walking. My family all windsurf so I am often to be found by the sea or a lake walking the dogs. I am very into music mainly indie music but I love a good song.
Sharon Bainbridge
Millinery By Design
+44 7967 867378
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
http://www.millinerybydesign.co.uk
sharon@millinerybydesign.co.uk
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