This year I took part in the Dutch Hat Association (NHV) Competition. The theme of the competition was Waste Not Want Not with a package of materials supplied by Majesa/The Panama Hat Company with a focus toward sustainability and the challenge of transforming damaged materials.
In the material pack I received a slightly damaged black Panama capeline and tan with black speckled trimmings resulting from the transformation from straw capeline to hat. This material is supplied by The Panama Hat Company, which itself uses these scraps and discarded capelines to make cocktail hats and trims.
The piece I designed and created is titled Graptogyne. This striking traditional fedora shape features a hand finished petersham edge and headfit. The floating feather shape is inspired by the majestic wings of the south-eastern red-tailed Black Cockatoo. Found in Southwest Victoria is an endangered species and one that should not be lost.
It will be on display at CODA Museum in Apeldoorn and has been judged by Herma de Jong, hat designer from Baarn (chairman of the Jury), Anne Marie van der Veen, President BMA, Branchevereniging Fashion Crafts, Mavi Tzaig, owner of Majesa, The Panama Hat Company Luton (supplier of the competition materials) and Yara de Vries, student at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague.
Image by Elly Stemerdink