In a world of fast fashion and mass production, commissioning a bespoke hat is a quiet act of rebellion. It is choosing craft over convenience, personality over trend, and something made for you over something made for everyone. Here is why it is worth it.
"When a client tells me she does not want to see anyone else wearing the same hat, I tell her: that is literally impossible with bespoke. Your hat exists once in the world, and it belongs to you."
— Kathryn Lee
It Is Made For You
A bespoke hat is designed for your face shape, your colouring, your height, and your outfit. During a consultation, I consider how light falls across both the hat and your face, how colours interact with your skin tone, and how proportion affects the overall look. The result is a hat that flatters you in ways no off-the-rack piece can.
It Is One of a Kind
Every bespoke commission is unique. No templates, no patterns to copy, no "bestsellers" to replicate. Your hat is a prototype, the first and last of its kind.
It Lasts
A hat made with premium materials, expert construction, and proper internal fittings will last decades. My clients wear their bespoke pieces year after year, season after season. The cost per wear makes bespoke one of the smartest fashion investments you can make.
The Experience Matters
The bespoke process itself is special. Visiting an atelier, trying on shapes, discussing materials, and watching your hat come to life over weeks is a luxury experience that adds meaning to the finished piece. When you wear your hat, you carry the memory of how it was made.
- Timeline: Four to six weeks for a bespoke piece. For Melbourne Cup Carnival, book by August.
- The process: Consultation, design, material selection, blocking, trimming, fitting.
- What to bring: Your outfit (or photos and fabric swatches), your ideas, and an open mind.
