What is a bespoke millinery design?
A specially designed hat, tailor-made for you is a thing of beauty! The pleasure of wearing a unique creation shouldn’t be just for the super-rich, so I’m bringing bespoke millinery to you.
An Imogen’s Imagination hat gives you a contemporary twist on a vintage style – with clean lines and elegant shapes, to match your outfit or theme, so you feel truly special.
To keep things simple, I use the term bespoke millinery to include custom orders. These are very simple changes to a existing design and may be completed much more swiftly.
There are three steps to the bespoke millinery process:
- An initial consultation at the studio
- A mock-up design
- The finished headwear
Prices for this service start at £200 and I ask for 6-8 weeks to complete your design. This is worked from our first consultation to collection/delivery of the finished headwear.
Already know what you want? Or do you simply want to ask a question before booking a consultation? Please do get in touch.
Need some inspiration? Visit my design archive to see examples of hats and fascinators created for bespoke clients and past collections.
I’m proud to welcome clients to my studio for consultations and fittings. However, if you want to visit just for a nosy, this is only possible during the annual Exchange Place Studios Open Studio weekend. (Usually the third weekend in November)
As the studio is a working environment, I do ask that visits to the studio are by appointment only.
Please do send me photos or links to your outfit when you get in touch. You can even send me pictures or links to or any headwear inspiration – it doesn’t have to be one of my designs!
I love seeing my client’s ideas, as well as their likes and dislikes. It helps me get inside your head… which sounds far creepier than it actually is!
I just want to get to know you a little better before our first meeting and a picture speaks a thousand words. Especially when trying to describe ideas that have captured your imagination.
The final cost of your bespoke headwear will include:
- All appointments and correspondence
- All labour including any mock ups required and the final design
- All materials – This cost will vary according to your chosen design. I will guide you through appropriate options, both budget-friendly and “bust the budget”!
Naturally, you will also receive a hat box for your design to keep it safe for many years.
6-8 weeks allows me time to research, source and receive specific materials that may be required for your order.
This time frame also includes your consultation and fitting appointments, development of your design and the creation of your final headwear.
You won’t be my only client at busy times of year, and I’m sure you have a hectic diary too! I ask for this long to be kind to us both.
Please do get in touch with me as soon as you have chosen your outfit! This can be done my contact page or my booking form.
I will ask you to email me photos of your outfit and other accessories. This will help me to suggest potential design possibilities. Obviously, I will also ask you for any ideas that you have about the style of design you would like.
Your first consultation usually takes about an hour. I will ask you to bring your outfit so I can see the colours and fabrics first hand. We can then colour match my swatches to your outfit.
You will have the opportunity to try on a range of designs that suit you and your preferences.
I will give you a give you a rough guide as to how much your commission will cost at your appointment. The cost will be affected by factors such as the cost of the materials used and the amount of time the design will take to make.
I will then confirm the quotation, with a summary of our consultation, via email. At this stage, you will be required to pay a 50% non-refundable deposit. This allows me to order in any required materials and create a mock-up of your design.
When the mock-up is complete, I will email you photos of the design for you to approve. At this point, it may be necessary to arrange a further appointment for you to try the design on again.
Once the final design has been agreed, I will start making the final version.
I will email you photos when the design is finished and we’ll set a date for your collection appointment.
At the final fitting, the balance payment will be made and I will carefully pack your design so that you can transport it safely.
Other Services Available
Pre-loved and re-born!
I can even rework a loved favourite hat into a brand-new thing of wonder! I can renovate, refurbish and repair your favourite hat so you can wear it again.
Whether it’s reworking and cleaning a man’s trusted trilby or redesigning a ladies’ favourite wide-brimmed hat into a sleek, new style – I’ll change your pre-loved hat into a re-loved hat!
