10 year Anniversary of the Hattember Competition – A Challenge To Remember!
Welcome to the Hatters Millinery Supplies Hattember Competition for 2025! This is a special year for Hattember as we celebrate 10 years since its inception. To mark this milestone we have created three exciting categories to both champion the wonderful world of Millinery and recognise the incredible efforts of the Hattember competition thus far.
As usual, the Hattember competition is a charitable effort, raising funds for the John Skipper Kelly Fund. The JSK Fund is a cause close to our hearts, which provides leadership opportunities, mentoring and support for young people from a range of backgrounds.
The Hattember Materials Kit:
Entrants in each category will be sent a curated bag of materials (each category will receive different materials) in which to create their entry from. Each of the items in the bag must be used, if only in part, to complete your submission. You are able to use any number of additional materials, as long as you still feature at least in part, some of the materials provided.
Registration Fees:
Registration, which includes entry, your bag of materials and the postage of the materials, is:
- $120 for Category 1: Millinery – Celestial Couture
- $130 for Category 2: Millinery – Cowboy Chic
- $85 for Category 3: Novice Millinery – Resort Glam
You may enter up to two times per category.
Postage and return postage of your final submission is at the entrants cost. A return postage label MUST be included in the box with your submission. If you are an international entrant, you may contact us to organise your return postage.
For full details on each category as well as terms and conditions, see below.
A look at this year’s Categories:
Category 1: Millinery – Celestial Couture
For this year’s competition we are asking entrants to create a hat, headpiece or fascinator. We are looking for an innovative and high quality piece of millinery that will really wow us! The prompt this year is “Celestial Couture”. For this prompt we want you to be inspired by all things heavenly, the cosmos and our place in the universe. This could be anything from constellations, planets, the sky, astronomy, the divine and more. As always the theme is entirely open to interpretation and we are letting your imaginations run free – surprise us!
You will be provided with a curated bag of Millinery materials in which to create your entry from. Each of the items in the bag must be used, if only in part, to complete your submission. This year you are able to use any number of additional materials, as long as you still feature the materials provided.
The piece should be made to fit a head fit of 22.5 inches or 57cm.
Judges will determine the winner of the category by –
Original Design
Wearability
Quality Workmanship
Use of provided and additional materials
Interpretation of the theme
Category 2: Millinery – Cowgirl Chic
For this year’s competition we are asking entrants to create a hat, headpiece or fascinator. We are looking for an innovative and high quality piece of millinery that will really wow us! The prompt this year is “Cowgirl Chic”. This category is celebrating the enduring style of western wear and the allure of the Cowgirl aesthetic. Think both modern and traditional interpretations of country and western, from Coachella and Taylor Swift to Dolly Parton, rodeos and western films. Perhaps, like many of our customers, you come from a country town – show us your version of cowgirl chic!
Category 3: Novice Millinery – Resort Glam
This category is open to any current student of millinery at an accredited source (e.g. TAFE students, community college students, online millinery courses, millinery workshops) or beginner who has not been awarded First Prize in Hattember or a similar award class in an equivalent Millinery competition. Those with an established commercial millinery enterprise are also not permitted to enter this category of the competition.
We are asking entrants in the Novice category to create a hat, headpiece or fascinator.
The prompt for this year’s competition is “Resort Glam”. We’re asking you to embody the Resort Wear woman – luxury, elegance and style in the summer months. The lines of inspirations for this category could come from anywhere! Think beach, swim, sun protection, natural fibres and relaxing in style. Create your dream vacation hat or embody Sophia Loren on the Italian Riviera – the theme as always is open to interpretation and can be determined as you see fit!
You will be provided with a curated bag of Millinery materials in which to create your entry from. Each of the items in the bag must be used, if only in part, to complete your submission. This year you are able to use any number of additional materials, as long as you still feature the materials provided.
The piece should be made to fit a head fit of 22.5 inches or 57cm.
Judges will determine the winner of the Novice Millinery Category by –
Original Design
Wearability
Quality Workmanship
Use of provided and additional materials
Interpretation of the theme
Registration and Payment:
Registrations open on Wednesday 21st May for all categories and close on Friday 13th June.
Registration cost is $120 for the Millinery Category and $85 for the Novice Millinery Category – included in this price is your entry fee and a set bag of materials that will be used to create your submission.
Registration and payment should be made through the Hatters Millinery Supplies Website here
Competition materials will be sent out collectively by Friday 20th June in the attempt to keep a fair playing field (International entries will be sent out earlier to allow for postage times).
As this is a fund raising event we are unable to provide a refund once materials have been sent to you.
Submission and Exhibition:
When your entry is complete and ready to submit, please ensure that it is well packaged and protected before sending and includes the following:
- Your entry
- A submission form, which can be downloaded Here
- A return postage label (please note that if you live outside of Australia, you may contact us to arrange a return postage label). If you live within Australia and you are struggling to arrange a return postage label, please contact us.
- All entries must be sent or delivered to this address by Friday 26th August
Hatters Millinery Supplies
128 Victoria Rd
Rozelle NSW 2039
AUSTRALIA
If you would like to deliver or collect your entry in person, please state that on your submission form.
Happy Hatting!
The Hatters Millinery Supplies and Hattember Team
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