Tuesday 6 March 2012

Millinery Commission

Commission for Digging Deep for the Reluctant Adventures of Sky
by Identity Detective
Creative Director: Nikky Norton Shafau

I responded to a shout-out for costume assistant that was part of Manchester Metropolitan University email-out while I was studying Creative Practice.

BRIEF
Design an eccentric hat for Mario, the Italian ice cream vendor outside the theatre doors.
The madder the better!
My initial starting point of inspiration for texture and colour

The hat block

Sinamay, layered in different to get that old waffle cone colour and appearance. The heat of the iron will ensure they stick together and can be moulded as one piece.


    The sinamay is blocked and left to rest so the glues applied dry and solidify
 Can I get a perfect Whippy?

The monkey's blood (well, 3D fabric paint) goes on! One chance only...
The hat is retains its shape once removed from the block
Lining for the pillbox crown...a mixture of quilted silk and neon synthetic
It's all fitting in very nicely and the elastic is attached through eyelets

 I appliqued decorated and stiffened letters.
Can you tell what it is yet?!
Mario dons his Whippy 99!

"You'a want'a choc ice'a, ah? You'va come'a to the wrong place!"






Special thanks to Chrissie King at Hat Therapy
and Thomas Graham at The Wasp Factory