Rachel Trevor Morganis a world famous designer of hats. She is a royal milliner because of her association with British Royal Family. London based Rachel collaborates with leading fashion designers Caroline Charles, Stewart Parvin, Niel Cunningham and Ulrich Engler to design milliners to match their collections.
Interview excerpts:
Q. Why millinery?
A. All happened because of my mother, who is an inspiration to me. She used to wear lot of hats on formal occasions and it attracted me to. Otherwise I was keen to become a theatrical costume maker. But destiny took me the other way and I am enjoying it.
Rachel Trevor Morganis
I happened to be doing apprenticeship with well known milliner Graham Smith. My association with him changed me a lot and took me to designing hats as career.
Q.Tell us about your association with Royal family?
Although I have been designing hats for royal families my association with HM The Queen started in 2006 when they were looking for a new designer. They called me and asked to present sketches that suits the personality of HM The Queen. I had made her first hat on her 80th birth day. Since then I have been created more than 60 hats for the Queen and I was awarded a royal warrant.
Q. Tell about the design process?
A. I start with sketch that suits a wide collection of dresses. A sort of experimentation takes place before the development of final shape. It is the question of bringing together all sorts of elements into one.
Q.How different is your collection from other milliners?
A. My collection is simple in look and takes inspiration from collection of shoes and pair of bold necklace, which you can find in my studio itself.
Q. Besides Royals tell us about your other major work?
A. I have my personal collection which I wear on some great occasions. I have also designed gorgeous hats for Jacques Vert Brands. Also The Duchess of Cambridge, The Countess of Wessex and Zara Phillips have my hats.
Model wearing Rachel Trevor Morganis’s hat
Q, What is special about your hats?
A.My mentor Graham Smith’s style taught the hats should be flawless and little like sculptures. My hat is beautifully rolled and you cannot see a single stitch. I am a perfectionist a bit.
Q. How would you match hat with dress?
A. That depends on the clients. During discussion with my clients I always try to find out what kind of dress she is going to wear for the occasion and any special look she is having in mind. Once I got the idea of what kind of hat she is looking for I start my work from sketching to finish. In between I interact with my client once or twice for possible trimming and about the whole silhouettes looks like.
