Hey Sailor!

After a looooooooooooooooong break Hatastic! is back with a gorgeous milliner called Kat Toronto and her hat company ‘Hey Sailor!' www.hey-sailor.com

I absolutely adore her pieces especially as I had the task of having to use a pheasant feather in a bespoke piece for one of my clients, and having never used feather before, I am in awe…  

Pheasant Feast Fascinator by Hatastic!

How would you describe your designs/hats?
Most of the hats that I design for Hey Sailor! are inspired by an era, be it the 1940s or the 1740s. I like to call my designs “Vintage Inspired Hats of Distinction”.
 
What made you decide to become a milliner and how long have you been in business?
Hey Sailor! hats stemmed from my search for whimsical vintage hats about five years ago. I am the singer for the band Ragwater Revue and my stage persona is a 1940s noir femme fatale, so of course I needed some amazing vintage 1940s tilt hats, but I wanted mine with a twist!

I began making my own vintage-inspired hats because after searching and searching on places like eBay and other vintage clothing sites, I was unable to find the vintage style hats that I so longed for. My background is in textile and costume design so with that knowledge under my wing I taught myself the art of millinery.
 
What price range are your pieces?
My hats range in price from around $50 for a simple mini-pillbox hat, all the way up to $275 for very special custom pieces.
 
Your hats feature pheasant feathers and wings! Is this a trend you are going through at the moment?
I absolutely love utilizing natural pheasant feathers and full wings in my hats, they give the hats a very sophisticated and classic feel. I think that no matter what the given trends are at any moment in fashion, pheasant feathers will always find their way into hat design.

Brown satin tricorn hat with pheasant wings by Hey Sailor!	Magenta silk topper hat with pheasant feature accent, by Hey Sailor!

If you had to make a very special bespoke piece, who would it be for and why?
I would be absolutely tickled to make a 1940s-style wide brim picture hat for the lovely Miss Dita Von Teese. She has an amazing, classic sense of style that has been a huge inspiration to me, it would be a huge honor to create a very special Hey Sailor! hat for her!
 
Tell us one thing about yourself that people might not know?
Hmmmm, I think a lot of people would be surprised to know that my background is actually in 18th and 19th century ladies undergarments such as corsets, bustles, panniers and things....I think most people just assume that I’ve been working with hats all my life but it’s not so!
 
What piece would you want to wear to which race meeting, and why?
Well, out here in the US we have the Kentucky Derby which I would love to someday attend. I would likely wear a highly extravagant hat, the more whimsical the better!
 
Whats your next piece/collection like? What's the inspiration?
Right now I am working on nautical-themed hats for an upcoming festival I will be attending in New York City in November. The hats are very fanciful and inspired by the hairstyles and hats worn by women in the 18th century, they feature real starfish, sand dollars and miniature wooden sailing ships on them!

Antoinette's Dream ship hat, by Hey Sailor! Photo copyright Kencredible Photography and the model is Scarlett Dancer	Red velvet 'Rita' classic tilt hat, by Hey Sailor! Photo copyright WinterWolf Studio and the model is Ruby Woo

WOW – thanks Kat! And since this interview, I have been inspired to make some more rather substantial headwear and even something nautical myself which is simply called Navy Percher! 

Brimmed With Autumn (now on sale in my shop http://folksy.com/items/90550-Brimmed-With-Autumn-Headpiece)	Navy Percher

Upcoming events:

Friday 20th November 2009
Sparkle - Contemporary Craft & Gourmet Fair
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington TW11 9NN
6pm - 8:30pm

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November 2009
Sparkle - Contemporary Craft & Gourmet Fair
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington TW11 9NN
10am to 5pm

Sunday 29th November 2009
Handm@de at Oxford Town Hall
11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday 5th December
We Make at Chelsea Town Hall
(in association with The Make Lounge)
11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Thursday 17th till 20th December 2009
All I Want For Xmas - The Design & Gift Market
Old Truman Brewery F Block 1st floor entrances from Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street and 81 Brick Lane
Thursday 5pm – 9pm
Friday 12pm – 6pm
Saturday 10am – 6pm
Sunday 10am – 6pm
FREE ADMISSION!
 
More dates to follow...
 
If you require a bespoke piece for your special occasion or for anything else, please email me! 

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