Can you tell us how you first got into making hats and accessories? Was it something you were drawn to from a young age, or did it come later in life?
When I was in school for fashion design, my teachers told me hatmaking was a dying art and there really wasn't a future in it. I moved to Nashville originally to work in alterations. After about a year of that I found the hat industry and realized how strong it was in Nashville TN. I started off by decorating blank hats and eventually launched my own business after diving deeper into the full creation of the hat from start to finish. In this process I make the base hat from the felt, size it, sew in the sweatband, and then customize it completely.
What does your craft mean to you today?
My craft means many things. It is a business of course; however, it is also a form of self expression for the people who wear the hats. Majority of the custom orders are made to tell a story. We work together to discuss what is important to the wearer. It is a great way to bring family heirlooms to life, tell stories, give new life to old clothes, and so much more. I want people to feel proud of who they are when they wear these hats. I love that they give the wearer a sudden boost of confidence rooted in their narrative.
Do you remember the first hat you created that made you think, "I'm really proud of this"?
The first real project I can remember (though I'm sure I did much more) was creating my dress for the 5th-grade daddy-daughter dance. My aunt taught me how to sew and I would go over on the weekends and just tackle sewing projects. I remember that dress meaning so much more to me because I had made it. I wish more people could make their own clothes, we would likely have a little less fast fashion due to the pure joy of wearing a piece you made. I definitely rewear the items I made the most. I want the same thing to carry over into hats. I hope that because each person incorporates their story into their hat, they feel they were a part of making it and that it holds more value and meaning for them.
What was the biggest challenge when you were just starting out?
I have a background in fashion design and have been sewing since the age of four, so I strongly benefited from my capacity to problem solve. When learning to make a hat from the bottom up, I remember watching as many YouTube videos as I could find and then just ordering the base materials needed to make a hat in my size. I made a handful of hats just testing techniques and learning through hands on experience. Once I felt confident in what a quality hat felt like, I took the leap of starting my own business with them. I think the biggest challenge when starting was really understanding what quality felt like and how to achieve that while creating the proper size. Hats differ in size just like shoes do. It's not one size fits all. Any adjustments you make can affect the sizing.
What's most important to you when creating a piece: impeccable fit and form, creative design, attention to detail, or the emotional connection it creates for the client?
At the end of the day the most important part to me is the emotional connection to the client. Because I'm such a people person, their joy means the most to me in the project. I will always push a customer toward the design I believe works best, but if they have their heart set on a specific detail it is my job to find the best way to make it happen. Of course, fit and form, design, and attention to detail are just as important, but the whole project starts with finding that emotional connection.
Where do your ideas for new projects usually come from?
My favorite place to find new inspiration is through what most people would refer to as "mistakes." Problem solving has always been one of my strongest skills, and I love how it makes you think outside the box. It often pushes you to work beyond the rules you unknowingly set for yourself in the creative process. In reality I don't think mistakes really exist in the creative process. If you learn to calmly acknowledge and not react to a "mistake," no matter the size, you will be more open to thinking through the solutions, creative fixes, redirections, or design adjustments.
What does your studio look like today, and how has it evolved since the early days?
I am actually moving studios this month! My previous studio was about half the size but I am so excited to be moving into a bigger space with two walls of windows. My studio will always have a large work table where I can sit down with clients and hats scattered along the wall. I always want people to walk in with a sense of wonder and awe the same way I light up when I work with new materials and meet new people. My new studio will have more room designated to sewing. I hope to move into some more custom sewing projects in addition to making hats.
Were there any challenges or limitations you ran into with dress forms?
In college I learned to work on a sized dress form. When I left college I went back to the adjustable form and that's when I realized I had lost the ability to properly work on a garment. I couldn't drape using the side seams, center front or center back because they didn't exist on that form. It was just a gaping hole with nowhere to pin. Since having my Royal Dress form, I have been able to properly design again. Everything fits so much better and it is so much easier to see and understand what I am doing.
How did you first hear about Royal Dress forms, and what made you decide to give our dress forms a try?
I saw other creatives using Royal Dress Forms. Every time I saw them they looked BEAUTIFUL. Everything looked seamless. The best part is these forms have legs so you can drape pants too. So many forms are just a torso and people are not built like that, so we shouldn't necessarily be designing that way. I was sold when I saw the leg, arm and head attachments. It helps so much with proportions.
Have you discovered any unique tips, tricks, or unexpected ways of working with a soft dress form while creating or showcasing your pieces?
I just love how lightweight and portable it is. It makes taking it back and forth from home to studio so easy. And it comes apart incredibly easily. I absolutely love my Monica Royal Dress form.
Thank you Alexa Wisnieski!
