Luton exhibition aims to get people to ‘fall in love’ with hats

An exhibition of hats in the town that was the centre of the industry aims to get people to “fall in love” with them again.

Felicity Shillingford has created nine pieces of artwork for her Hat Antics show in Luton.

The artist, who was born in Luton, wants them to amuse and entertain and to showcase the industry’s past, present and future.

Her “show-stopper” is a large creation made to look like an ice cream sundae.

“A hat really does complete an outfit”, she said.

“I’d like people to think about hats and hat-wearing – and even purchase one of two to go with a particular outfit.

“I want people to fall in love with hats again.”

Badminton Cloche took inspiration from the cloche hat that came to prominence in the 1920s

Ms Shillingford was inspired by the current exhibition, Hats Made Me, on display until 10 December at Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton.

“I’ve looked into an industry that isn’t what it used to be”, she said.

“I found out about the district where it existed and what its like now.”

For her piece, Badminton Cloche, Ms Shillingford combined a cloche hat with its badminton shuttlecock inspiration.

“The silhouette became a cross between a cloche and an earlier bonnet worn to protect the hair, and shield from an unwanted gaze.

“For this hat, I channelled my grandmothers, who were both quite sporty and stylish.”

With Kid Gloves features vintage gloves that were “hardly worn as they tend to be too small and impractical”, Felicity said

As well as entertaining people, Ms Shillingford wants to raise awareness of brain tumours.

Her piece, With Kid Gloves, “represents taking care of our head through the gloved hands that form a protective crown”, she said.

Hat Antics can be seen at Hat Works, Guildford Street, Luton until 20 January and then will transfer to Stockport – another town where the hat industry used to flourish.

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