All About Millinery Matters

Millinery Matters has been successfully making bespoke hats and head-wear since 2006. Following 12 years of working in Leicester,  Millinery Matters moved to South Littleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire in 2018. Although a little more rural, still easily accessible and less than 5 miles from the Warwickshire and Gloucestershire county boundaries, only 20 minutes from Stratford-on-Avon and 25 minutes from Cheltenham.

I'm Annie Griffith, the milliner behind Millinery Matters.  I've spent all of my life sewing, crafting and making things, having been initially taught by my grandmother to knit and sew aged 4.

My first foray into designer millinery was aged 13 when I made a giant (about 4 feet across and 2 feet high) chicken wire and papier-mache cup and saucer hat for a school disco, it must have been a Mad Hatters theme I think.  It was a bit wobbly to wear but was certainly a statement piece.

Since then I continued to sew, mostly for myself, undertaking various short courses in tailoring and occasion wear to hone my skills.  From time to time I would make wedding dresses and evening frocks for friends and colleagues.  Having made a friend's wedding dress, her gift to me was a one day hat making course.  After attending and making my first sinamay hat, I realised that I had to learn more and attended many more courses at the Wombourne School of Millinery.  

Following this I set up Millinery Matters in 2006.  It was a great thrill to get my very first commission and I still enjoy the whole process immensely. I love the  creative challenge of designing hats to meet the specific needs of my clients together with the technical intricacies of constructing the hats. Every commission is different and I hope my clients have as much fun wearing their hats as I do creating them.

... because Millinery Matters