First prize winning design

Once again we were presented with a wonderful array of entries, thirty-four in total, to both delight and amaze the judges as we carefully made our assessment of the creations for this year’s awards.

2nd prizewinner

The qualification for this annual competition is that the hat must be made out of, or incorporate, felt, and it is open to British and European students and apprentices of the millinery trade.

3rd prizewinner

In keeping with tradition, the judging took place at Haberdashers’ Hall on April 17^th, which meant that our principle guests, the Lady Mayoressof the City of London and the wives of the sherrifs could not join us, as their presence was expected at St. Paul’s Cathedral to attend the funeral of Baroness Thatcher.

The judges were Carole Denford, the Hat Magazine fashion editor; Leica Finch, Fenwicks’ millinery buyer; Frederick Fox, LVO, milliner and Liveryman; William Horsman, retired millinery manufacturer and Past Master of the Feltmakers’ Livery; Edwina Ibbotson, milliner and lecturer; Amber Morales, the Daily Mirror fashion editor, -Eda Rose-Lawson, milliner and Past Master of the Feltmakers’ Livery, – Rachel Trevor-Morgan, milliner and Liveryman; Ian Wright, millinery manufacturer and Liveryman.All of whom were ably assisted by the beautiful model, Jasmine Pearce; Master Feltmaker,Anthony Phillips and Liveryman Peter Shirley, who took the photographs.

After much deliberation the judging panel made the final selection.

Taking the first prize of £1,200 was Marina Walger from University of Lincoln for a sculptural hat in brown wool felt, high-lighted by a pair of bright orange quills. Marina will be presented with her cheque on the occasion of the Feltmakers’ Banquet at Mansion House in June.

Second prize of £600 was awarded for an eye-catching gilded felt creation by Martine Henry of Kensington and Chelsea College.

Craftsmanship prizewinner

The third prizewinner was Millie Turner of Northampton College for her swirled felt hat decorated with pearls. She will receive £450.

The special category awards of £200 each were as follows:-

Craftsmanship: –

an unusual winged head-dress using felt in both a practical and a precisely executed manner, by Sarah Townsend of Kensington and Chelsea College.

Commercial Appeal prizewinner

Commercial Appeal:-

a neat black peach-bloom felt hat featuring curved ostrich feathers and fine veiling, byEmily Ellwood from Leeds College of Art.

Innovative Use of Felt prizewinner

Art-work and Presentation:-

a fine portfolio of ideas and working drawings for a hat, submitted by Samantha Dixon of Northampton College.

Innovative Use of Felt:-

a spray of white felt flowers, feathers and crystals to form a very becoming bridal head-dress, by Marie Hennessy-Halewood of Leeds College of Art.

Following the pleasurable task of the day, the judges, joined by our clerk, Maj. Jollyon Coombs, repaired to the beautifully panelled dining room, where we all enjoyed a well-earned and perfectly presented light luncheon.

The Master addressed the party and thanked Rachel Trevor-Morgan and Ian Wright for organising a very successful event.

Eda Rose-Lawson

Photographs by Peter Shirley and Carole Denford