School of Millinery with Jenny Roberts

07/01/2026

23/09/2025

Just wanted to share with you the Feltmakers Design Award 2026 which had just launched a great opportunity to design a hat and enter

Feltmakers Design Award 2026
Rules of the Competition - To Design a Hat
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
• Applications are invited from fashion students and employees of a trainee or apprentice status working in the headwear industry
• Applicants are also welcome to enter the competition within 5 years of completing their millinery studies or starting their own millinery business.
• Entries may be submitted from any country within the European Community.
• There is no age restriction.
YOUR SUBMISSION
• Whilst the award will be for design, that design should be capable of being manufactured in a factory or workroom for commercial sale. A sample must be submitted for final judging.
• There should be only one entry per student and a maximum of five entries per college unless prior permission has been granted.
• There should be a written backing paper outlining the thought process and inspiration behind the design, and production notes of the hat. Entries may not be judged if this paper is not submitted. Please include as much detail as you can.
• You should also include an artwork of your design which in the medium of your choice (paint, ink, digital, collage, sketches). We invite you to be as creative as possible.
• Felt has to be used, although it need not be the major content of the hat.
• The hat must be made to fit an average head size of 57cm.

Please note - Artwork should not exceed A3 (42cm x 30cm) in size

AWARD PRIZES
The First Prize winner will receive £1500 plus a total of one week work experience with established milliners.
The Second Prize winner will receive £1000.
The Third Prize winner will receive £750.
Minor Prizes of £250 will be awarded for: Artwork and Presentation, Commerciality, Craftsmanship and Innovative Use of Felt.

HOW TO APPLY
• Complete the application form and return by email to [email protected] with a photo of your submission. The photo may be taken on your phone and from all sides.
• Deadline: digital entries should be sent before March 1st 2026.
• A pre-selection will take place and the selected entrants will be asked to send their submissions along with their Artwork.
• Judging will take place during April 2025 and the Judges’ decision will be final.

For any further questions please contact Sophie at Rachel Trevor-Morgan by email: [email protected]

09/05/2025

Hoping to see as many of you as possible at next weeks exhibition at the Bank of England, Please do come and find me I will be there:
-All day Monday
-Tuesday Morning
-Thursday late afternoon and evening until 8pm
-Friday morning

There are still a few places left for two of the talks if you want to join them the link is here

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/language-of-millinery-tickets-1270493774079?aff=oddtdtcreator

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-making-of-a-masterpiece-hats-for-the-fabulous-tickets-1292971615909?aff=oddtdtcreator
xx

10/03/2025

Just wanted to share this with you, two of my former students were lucky enough to benefit from this opportunity this year and it is running again...

Dear Course Leader, Tutor, and friends of The King’s Foundation,

The King’s Foundation would like to offer recent graduates and Alumni from your institution the opportunity to apply for The CHANEL & The King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Millinery Fellowship, in partnership with le19M.
Please share this information with those you feel might benefit from this unique and exciting opportunity.
Applications close at midnight on the 28th of April 2025.
Interview will be in person at The King’s Foundation at Highgrove, week commencing 12th May 2025.
Start date of Millinery Fellowship: September 2025.
The application form can be found here: Millinery Fellowship Application - The King's Foundation

The CHANEL and The King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Millinery Fellowship.
The Millinery Fellowship has been created to preserve the skill and savoir faire of millinery artisans and to share this knowledge through an intensive educational programme. We are now pleased to announce the second edition of this 35-week programme, starting in September 2025.
The Fellowship supports craftsmanship through the practice and development of skills and innovation in the quest for excellence, and will be based at The King’s Foundation at Highgrove, Gloucestershire, with atelier immersion at Maison Michel in Paris and, potentially, eight weeks in London at our Trinity Buoy Wharf site.
Thanks to the generosity of our partner, CHANEL, this programme will be fully funded, to include tuition, accommodation at Highgrove,* materials, travel to Paris and accommodation, and a graduation celebration and exhibition. In addition, students will be awarded a bursary of £1500 per month towards the cost of living.

General Information
The cohort size is limited to six students to allow for the highest level of tutoring and expert mentoring. Applicants should meet the following criteria:
• Have graduated in the last 3 years and be in possession of a qualification at HNC, HND, BA or MA level in one of the following disciplines: Millinery, Textiles or Fashion or a related design subject. Or alternatively, be able to provide evidence of similar levels of skills and experience through working in the industry or a similar industry.
• Should be able to demonstrate a willingness and ability to gain new hand skills to an advanced level.
• Excellent research and drawing skills, as well as an interest in developing and understanding millinery in relation to the fashion industry, theatre, film or performance sectors.
• Unique design codes and creative thinking and an open mind to new ways of working and thinking.
• An enthusiastic work ethic, to meet the expectations of the intensive programme.
• A willingness to learn new skills from designers, milliners, artisans, mentors and master craftspeople.
• Able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK.
• Have a current passport that meets EU entry and visa requirements for the length of the
Programme.
• A willingness to travel to Paris regularly, throughout the Fellowship.
• A willingness to relocate to The King’s Foundation at Highgrove for 36 weeks.
*£400 deducted per month for onsite accommodation including all utilities.

Pleased don’t hesitate to get in touch with us should you have any further questions.

Your sincerely,
Daniel McAuliffe
Education Director, The King’s Foundation

30/09/2024