Milliner Chat – Ministry of Millinery

Our first post for ‘Milliner Chat‘ is with Ministry of Millinery… we hope you enjoy it : )

Who is behind Ministry of Millinery?
My name is Amanda Loiselle, I am the founder and designer of the brand called Ministry of Millinery. I design and create both traditional and modern hats and headpieces

Whats your background Amanda?
I was born in Scotland, grew up in Canada and have found my home back in the United Kingdom. My background is of performance, art / design, fashion and textiles. When I’m not making hats, I’m either running or painting watercolours

When did your passion for hats start?
Early childhood is where my passion for hats began. Images of iconic hat wearers in films, such as Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn and even Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter himself, stirred my desire to create. I first dabbled a bit, making hats by taking old ones apart and learning the patterns

I began to sell them in craft shows and then boutiques, mostly for children. Life then got in the way and my millinery was shelved for many years. It was only in recent times that this desire has surfaced again… I felt able to develop my passion using traditional hatblocking and flower making techniques

Whats the goal?
My aim was then and still is, to develop a brand that encompasses everything I love… art, beauty and the dramatic

Each Ministry of Millinery design has its own individual voice, originality and uniqueness…

“I want the wearer of a Ministry of Millinery design to have an experience that enhances their moment, event of even just their day”