Joyful head pieces
- Berry works closely with her customers
- She likes to experiment creatively
- She has a keen eye for form, colour and fitting
Berry Rutjes has been making statement hats for the last 30 years. When she was still only a fashion designer and tailor in training, she was clearing out a drawer when she found scraps of magazines that inspired her to construct three-dimesional hats. These paper hats ended up being used for a presentation and from that moment on, hats became her livelihood, after choosing to specialise in millinery. Berry’s hats are hand sculpted from linen, straw, cotton, and silk, vibrant splashes of colour adding a note of joie de vivre. With finesse and an undisputed maker’s eye for colour, form, and fit, her selection of headwear is elegant and stands out for its exuberant flourishes of feathers and foliage.
INTERVIEW
When I’ve made the right hat for the client and they’re delighted that I've highlighted their personality through the hat, then I’m happy that I’ve done my job properly. Making others happy with my hats is what I love most.
I was given the honourable task of making a hat for Queen Maxima, when she was still a princess, for Prinsjesdag, national Budget Day in The Netherlands. It was in a classical Audrey Hepburn style and suited her so well.
I colour materials using natural dyes, like turmeric and beetroot, and I like to experiment, mixing them intuitively. I also like to recycle materials. I transformed an old pair of jeans and a silk skirt into unique hats and have even made hats from wallpaper.
Just go for it; don’t give up. It’s essential to specialise and use your own network. It’s important to always remain open to new fashion trends and new developments, so that you can move with the times. Invest in craftsmanship, knowledge and quality.
1 EXPERIENCE
