Judy steps inside the wondrous Madrid atelier of Ana Lamata, maker of exquisite bespoke hats and a world many may have thought was a distant memory.

Surrounded by hat boxes, hand dyed ribbons, linings and trims and her collection of traditional millinery tools, Ana tells Judy how her love of wearing and collecting hats first inspired her to leave behind a promising career as an art historian to become a professional milliner, learning her craft from millinery legend, Rose Cory, milliner to the late Queen Mother.

This is a wonderful tale of reinvention told through the lens of a true 21st century artisan.

Her deliberate change of career direction speaks to Ana’s belief in the power and eloquence of clothing and specifically, headwear to address the social history, art, and culture in which they were created in their very own way. In this sense, every Ana Lamata hat is an important artefact, not just for the wearer but for the connoisseur and historian. For Ana, every hat tells a precious story.

Show Notes:

Ana Lamata

Ana Lamata Instagram

// Hosted by Judy Stewart // Produced by Caroline Hughes for Feast Collective// Sound Engineer: Jason Millhouse //

// Instagram: @_unpaused // Website: www.unpaused.net

S8, Ep 51 - Ana Lamata: Hat Maker & Botanical Artist