Louisiana Derby 2019 guest judge
Maria Etkind
This year I was Invited by the New Orleans Fair Grounds and Brit Mott with Fashion at the Races to be one of the 3 judges for the Louisiana Derby Fashion Contest.
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Journal
Maria Etkind Millinery is a Panamanian millinery living in New Orleans. She loves to share some of her millinery adventures in her journal. If you are a hat enthusiast or a millinery you will love to read her musings.
London Hat Week 2019 and much more!
Maria Etkind
I had the privilidge to attend London Hat Week 2019 for the first time this year. I had such great time learning new techniques and meeting new milliner that now I can call my friends! I took 5 classes with world class milliners, attended the Xterrece Hat Show, Dior and the Mary Quant fashion exhibit at the V&A museum. I was also able to attend a few lectures that were organized by LHW and the V&A.
The best part about my trip was meeting new milliners, teachers that I have looked up to and of course Stephen Jones!
Dior Exhibit at the V&A Museum, London
Spanning 1947 to the present day, this exhibition traces the history and impact of one of the 20th century's most influential couturiers, exploring the enduring influence of the fashion house, and Dior's relationship with Britain. Learn more about this exhibit at https://www.vam.ac.uk.
London Hat Week 2019 Official Exhibition: ‘The Great Hat Exhibition – World Garden.
Milliners from around the world were invited to apply to showcase hats inspired by nature for thousands of visitors to see. All exhibition hats will incorporate exotic, exquisite, intriguing flowers, plants, or landscape scenes in some way. The exhibition will be set up with a form of themed gardens for London hat lovers to be immersed in a journey across continents and enjoy the wonderful colous and forms of nature captured by the exhibiting milliners.
My London Hat Week Workshops:
I took classes with Carole Maher, Ian Bennett, Maor Zabar, Jane Taylor and Dillan Wallwork. I learned how to use thermoplastics, made buntal straw turbans, couture hat techniques, 3-D hats, cabbage feather flowers and more.
Party time meeting new and old friends!
So nice to see my old Dutch millinery teachers and hang out with new milliners!
Mary Quant Exhibit and Stephen Jones Dior Lecture:
From miniskirts and hot pants to vibrant tights and makeup, discover how Mary Quant launched a fashion revolution on the British high street, with over 200 garments and accessories, including unseen pieces from the designer's personal archive.
I was so thrilled to meet one of my millinery idiols while in London. This was the highlight and end of my amazing trip!
Stephen Jones: is a leading British milliner based in London, who is considered one of the world's most radical and important milliners of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.[1] He is also one of the most prolific, having created hats for the catwalk shows of many leading couturiers and fashion designers, such as John Galliano at Dior and Vivienne Westwood.
News With a Twist: ‘This isn’t your grandmother’s hat,’ Local milliner creates hats with a twist
Maria Etkind
“Seeing women looking good and knowing that hat was made for them, that it fits them properly, it’s amazing. It’s as good as like a high-end bag or shoe. You are making those investments, so make an investment on a nice hat.”
This spring I was interviewed by Karla Bettucci from WGNO News with a Twist. We had fun time and she asked me tons of questions about hat making and the millinery process! I love talking about millinery and my process.
Watch the full segment here:
NEW ORLEANS -- With so much technology and equipment, there are very few people who still make clothes and accessories by hand.
However, one local woman is changing the game by hand crafting the ultimate accessory for your head.
Maria Etkind is designing hats the old fashioned way and considers herself to be a milliner.
The term milliner became popular in the mid 1500s in London and described the fashion that came from Milan, Italy.
Over time, the trend has changed and even declined until the royals brought the look back like Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana.
Etkind says the love of hat making all started when she was living in Holland.
She took many classes and fell in love with the unique process.
Now, she runs her own business out of her home in New Orleans using techniques that are over 100 years old and incorporates a few new aged methods as well.
"I work with sinamay which is a hand-woven straw from the Philippines. I use 3 layers. I wet it, and then I block it into the block, whatever shape that is," says Etkind.
Then, she embellishes the hat with different materials like feathers, felt pieces, veiling, quails, and more.
It's a personalized process that helps Etkind work directly with individuals to customize their hats depending on the event, the outfit, and even the time of year.
"Seeing women looking good and knowing that hat was made for them, that it fits them properly, it's amazing. It's as good as like a high-end bag or shoe. You are making those investments, so make an investment on a nice hat," says Etkind.
Etkind says she worked around the clock this Mardi Gras season.
She created hats for the ladies in the Krewe of Iris and for the debutantes who attended the Rex parade.