Our Heritage

Why is heritage so important? Why should we focus on what has been and not just turn our gaze to the bright new future? Why is the past relevant for our present?

We believe to understand our heritage is fundamental in acknowledging the incredible milliners who came before us, who trained us and helped us become the professionals we are now.

The milliners of the past are the guardians of our trade. In constantly striving for innovation, they developed techniques that we are still using today, and we now consider traditional. They worked when access to a variety of materials was quite different from what is available to us now, and they used their creativity and ingenuity to overcome the challenges that our trade sometimes must still face today. To discover how they worked, overcame problems, found their own styles, and related to their clientele is truly a tale worth telling. This knowledge will help us now as we become the next generation adding our own skills and information through new materials and new technologies.

Preserving our common heritage will help future generations to learn more about our long tradition, about the people who made our trade survive and prosper and to feel part of a community of creatives that stretches back in time.

Giulia Mio

Our Honorary Members

The Honorary Member category is a title awarded by the Guild. It is bestowed upon an individual in recognition of their outstanding contribution to our industry, through education, inspiration and reputation - a reflection of the respect and esteem held by those in the current industry.