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Blog

This blog brings together our latest updates, announcements and behind-the-scenes moments.
You’ll find the same posts we share on Instagram and Facebook, collected here in one place.

Japanese hat brands and shops

Japan has held a distinctive place in the global hat industry since Western hats were introduced there around 130 years ago. Today, its hat making continues to stand out for its technical precision, regional heritage and refined design sensibility, with Japanese hat brands regularly presenting their collections in Europe at trade shows such as Première Classe and Who’s Next. For Issue 108 (February 2026), The Hat Magazine travelled to Japan to meet the people behind these collections. Over ten days, we visited nine hat brands, a materials specialist and a number of independent hat shops, journeying from Tokyo to Osaka, Kobe, Hokuto Yamanashi and the coastal town of Kasaoka. The trip also offered the opportunity to reconnect with several companies first featured six years ago and to see how their businesses have evolved. What emerged is a picture of a sector defined by commitment and adaptability – where heritage techniques meet contemporary design, and where there is a clear determination to sustain hat culture for the future.
Photos taken at Ishidaseibou, CA4LA, Mature ha, K. Sahara, Barairo no Boushi and Chapeau bas!
Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine.

Plant-based fur

What would you create with just one metre of plant-based fur? In the February 2026 issue of The Hat Magazine (no. 108), felt artist and milliner Saar Snoek takes on this challenge using innovative material by BioFluff. Her exploration led to the creation of both a trapper hat and a pillbox, each revealing the fabric’s potential in contemporary hat making.
Her verdict is clear. The BioFluff fabric is versatile, easy to dye and sew, and offers a sustainable alternative. As Saar notes, it does not imitate fur but stands on its own as a distinctive, ‘hairy’ textile.
Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine.

Hat Museums

Across Europe and beyond, museums dedicated to hats, straw work and millinery heritage quietly safeguard the stories behind our craft. From former factories to artisan workshops and civic collections, these institutions preserve far more than objects. Tools, machinery, archives, photographs and thousands of hats are carefully maintained – not only for display, but as living resources for researchers, makers and educators. They hold the technical knowledge, cultural context and human stories that continue to shape hat making today.
In our latest feature, we highlight nine museums across Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, England and China. Each offers its own perspective on the industry, yet all share a common purpose: to preserve knowledge and ensure that the heritage of hat making remains accessible for future generations. Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108).
Pictures taken at: Wardown House Luton, Museu da Chapelaria, L'Atelier-Musée du Chapeau, Schweizer Strohmuseum, Nantong Hat Museum and Deutsches Hutmuseum
Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine.

Misa Harada

From Tokyo to London and now Cardiff, milliner Misa Harada has built a brand that bridges cultures and generations. Known for hats that combine Japanese practicality with a touch of European couture, her journey has been shaped by chance encounters, creative collaborations and remarkable resilience.
In our latest feature, Misa reflects on four decades in the industry – from studying with Shirley Hex and working with royal hat maker Frederick Fox, to launching her own label and seeing her designs worn by musicians, actors and fashion icons.
Read the full interview in the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine.

A/W 26/27 trade shows

Visiting trade shows is always a great way to (re)connect with people. You never quite know who you’re going to run into, and that’s part of the charm.
Kiriko Sato used to exhibit at Premiere Classe until the pandemic paused things several years ago. This season marked her return to Paris, this time exhibiting at Tranoï, just a short distance away. Ranelle Larocque of Queen Bee Millinery travelled from Canada with her husband to visit Premiere Classe (pictured at Jennifer Ouellette’s booth). And at Tranoï, milliner Grainne Maher presented something new: not hats this time, but her first leather bag collection. A full A/W 26/27 trends report will be published in the May 2026 issue.

Covered wire frame

Using a millinery wire frame as the base for a headpiece allows for precise shaping while creating a lightweight yet stable structure that can be covered in a wide range of materials. In the workroom technique in the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine, Dutch milliner Marianne Jongkind explains step by step how to construct a wire frame and how to cover it with crin braid, keeping the base as light and translucent as possible. Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108).

More veiling

Veiling is more than just a beautiful trim – it has a rich history woven into its fibres. In the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine, alongside the practical tips and techniques article on working with veiling, you will also find an introduction to how veiling is made. The article explores how its fibres and structures have evolved over time, and how its role in fashion has shifted – from an everyday accessory to an occasional and couture trim. Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108).

Veiling

Veiling looks particularly striking on small perched hats, adding mystery, elegance and style. In the February 2026 issue (no. 108) of The Hat Magazine, Denise Innes Spencer explains the different lengths of veiling you can use and which hat styles they suit best. She shares practical tips for both wedding-style veiling and everyday hat veiling, and shows how the positioning of the gathers affects the final shape of the veil. A clear and useful guide for anyone working with veiling. Read the full article in the February 2026 issue (no. 108).

February 2026 Issue

Issue 108 (February 2026) of The Hat Magazine is out! In this issue: Interview with Misa Harada, Made in Japan, A journey through hat museums, Veiling facts, Workroom technique 'Covered wire frame' by Marianne Jongkind, and more!
Not yet a subscriber? Order a copy of this issue on the  back issues page or become an online subscriber.
Hat on cover by Ding Yan from CHICMAX.

Read online

As a print subscriber, you probably already know that your subscription includes access to the online version of The Hat Magazine. But did you know that reading your issues online offers more than just convenience? You can zoom in on the finest details, make notes, bookmark pages, and search across issues — perfect for revisiting articles, techniques, and interviews whenever you need them.
Images from Denise Innes-Spencer's tips & techniques articles in issues 100, 101, 102, 103, 104 and 107. Not a subscriber? Order a copy of these issues on the back issues page.

The Perfect Hat?

In her  November 2025 column ‘The Perfect Hat?’, Clair Hughes reflects on a deceptively simple question, sparked by a piece in the Financial Times. The answer, it turns out, has less to do with silk toppers or perfect proportions, and everything with meaning, context, and what dress historian Anne Hollander called ‘the accustomed frame of how things look’.
As male hats slipped out of everyday business life in the 1960’s and 1970’s, caps quietly stepped in – adaptable, practical, and socially negotiable. From baseball caps to flat caps, bakerboys and shepherd styles, caps have proved remarkably resilient, able to move between work, leisure, and class with ease.
That adaptability is something we see clearly on the trade show floor. At events such as Pitti Uomo and Who’s Next, caps have been a strong favourite in hat brands’ collections for several years now – not as a trend, but as a modern solution to an old problem.

French block maker

A professional in the art of shaping a wooden block as well as crafting a finished hat, Sébastien Tessier (France) is recognised for his mastery of exceptional skills and techniques. With this dual expertise, he has long enjoyed supporting hat designers in the implementation of their projects. Looking back, one could say that the beginning of his career was triggered by a series of coincidences before he became the passionate hatter and block maker he is today. Read the full story in the November 2025 issue (no. 107).

Who's Next, Paris

This weekend we visited Who’s Next in Paris. There, we reconnected with several brands with a long history in hat manufacturing that were exhibiting at the show for the first time. One of them was City Sport from Belgium – a true cap specialist with more than a century of experience, having celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2023 (see Issue 96, February 2023).
For more information about the trends for A/W 26/27, don’t miss our trends report in the May 2026 issue of The Hat Magazine.

Pitti Uomo, Florence

Yesterday, we met with London-based hat maker Lock & Co Hatters at trade show Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy. Founded in 1676, Lock & Co Hatters will mark its 350th anniversary this year, making it the world’s oldest hat shop still in operation.
For more information about the trends for A/W 26/27, don’t miss our trends report in the May 2026 issue of The Hat Magazine.

Polish block maker

Founded in 1945, Kacprzak Hat Blocks is now in its third generation, combining hand turning, foundry knowledge and digital tools in a small Polish workshop. Today, Julian Kacprzak works alongside his father and brother, producing blocks entirely by hand while using technology to speed up processes and keep blocks affordable. The company’s 80th anniversary in 2025 was marked not by nostalgia, but by momentum, including its first in-person sales abroad at Barcelona Hat Days. Read more about Kacprzak Hat Blocks in the November 2025 issue (no. 107).
In the photos, three generations of Kacprzak: grandfather, father, Julian and his brother