In 2007, Scottish textile designer William Chambers took a hat-making class at Metropolitan University, creating a collection that was shown to great acclaim at the year's Glasgow Fashion Week. Fast forward to his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, shown here, and it is easy to see that Chambers is taking this fashionably antiquated craft to new elevations, posthaste. Drawing on natural forms, with a modest pallet and classic compositions, Chambers evokes the redolent pomp of My Fair Lady's Ascot Races ... without, you know, the affected inflexibility of so many stiff necks. Most recently, Chambers has been invited to create hats and headpieces for the Dressed To Kilt Fashion Show hosted by Sir Sean Connery in New York City on April 5th 2010. [via Teagan Tall]
Taking inspiration from sources as diverse as ethnic head-dresses, British birds and the Glasgow architecture, William seeks to modernise millinery with a fresh look at how we dress the head today. He mixes traditional materials such as felt and synamay with contemporary materials like latex, plastic and metallic leather, creating headwear that is both challenging and desirable.
