A little glossary of beautiful millinery

Hat making has been an artisan craft of excellence for more than 700 years, yet it is little-known to the general public. Here, we have listed some key terms for this fine craft.

Conformer

An instrument with a screw that is used to spread and enlarge the opening of a headgear.

illustration of a conformer
Lining
Inner lining of a hat.

Coarse grain

Typical ribbon made up of fine vertical stripes that can be found on many hats.

Milliner
A person who makes hats by hand.
Crown

The high, central part of the hat that sits on the head.

illustration of a milliner's head
Milliner’s head

Wooden, fabric or felt head used by our milliners to create and test our hats.

Egg Iron

An egg-shaped iron that is heated and used to iron the material.

Plaiting
Non-visible base for stiffening a hat.
Feather dressers

Person supplying and preparing the feathers for our hats.

Shade

Also known as the brim, this is the part that surrounds the crown.

Hatter
A person who makes hats using aluminium moulds, allowing the production of identical hats in standard production runs.
Stiffening Primer

A product that is applied to the raw material to give it the desired rigidity.

Hat block maker
Name given to the person who makes the wooden shapes needed to make hats.
Sweat band
Often made of coarse grain or leather, it is the inner part of the hat that rests against the forehead and allows for comfort.
Hat blocks

Wooden or aluminium moulds that allow the desired shape to be given to a hat.

Conformer

An instrument with a screw that is used to spread and enlarge the opening of a headgear.

Coarse grain

Typical ribbon made up of fine vertical stripes that can be found on many hats.

Crown

The high, central part of the hat that sits on the head.

Egg Iron

An egg-shaped iron that is heated and used to iron the material.

Feather dressers

Person supplying and preparing the feathers for our hats.

Hatter

A person who makes hats using aluminium moulds, allowing the production of identical hats in standard production runs.

Hat block maker

Name given to the person who makes the wooden shapes needed to make hats.

Hat blocks

Wooden or aluminium moulds that allow the desired shape to be given to a hat.

Lining

Inner lining of a hat.

Milliner

A person who makes hats by hand.

Milliner’s head

Wooden, fabric or felt head used by our milliners to create and test our hats.

Plaiting

Non-visible base for stiffening a hat.

Shade

Also known as the brim, this is the part that surrounds the crown.

Stiffening Primer

A product that is applied to the raw material to give it the desired rigidity.

Sweat band

Often made of coarse grain or leather, it is the inner part of the hat that rests against the forehead and allows for comfort.

woman with a wooden hat mold in hands
Artisan craft of
excellence
since 1987