Julia Vilariño

Milliner | Pontedeume, Spain

A fresh start in hat making

Julia learned her craft from various artisans and milliners
Her hats are imbued with Galician tradition through materials and forms
She enjoys working with felt, and adding decorative accents to her pieces

Julia Vilariño studied fashion styling and has been a milliner in training since 2018. She learned from master artisan Félix de Martín, with whom she completed several specialised courses. “The craft is very broad, and I learned to work with multiple materials, such as felt, natural fibres and horsehair, and with techniques such as classic millinery, hat making, feather work, fabric flowers and dyeing,” she says. Julia has also taken courses with other professionals, including Denise Innes-Spencer and Susana Loureda, and jewellery making techniques with Carla Alfaia and Zeltia Ao Aire. “I took a basic introductory course in millinery and I fell in love with the craft, even though I would have never imagined dedicating myself to this practice. But during that course, I experienced a catharsis: I discovered a world I am passionate about. After countless hours in the workshop, I decided I wanted to dedicate myself to it,” says Julia. In 2022, she won the Eloy Gesto Scholarship.

Interview

©Rayonubesol

How did you end up making hats?: The craft chose me—it captivated me so much that I could not see myself doing anything else once I discovered it. I have been learning, improving, and creating my pieces ever since. I came to this profession in my late thirties, and I believe it had been waiting for me.
Is there a material you enjoy working with the most?: Although I enjoy many materials, I especially love making felt hats. Felt allows me to express my inspiration the most. I enjoy working with the material from the very beginning and seeing how its texture and finish transform.
Is there a strong hat-making tradition in Galicia?: I recently discovered that there was a milliner in my village in 1649. It was a traditional craft in Galicia, though people do not know much about it anymore—like the zoqueiros (wooden clog makers) or the afiladores (knife sharpeners). These were professions frequently practised by locals, but they faded away with declining demand.
Is Galicia strongly present in your work?: My work is influenced by Galician folklore: its culture and traditions, colours, and textures. My hats carry a part of me—my imagination, my land, and its traditions. I have my workshop in rural Galicia, which is an inspiration in itself. Being surrounded by greenery and listening to the birds singing fuels my creativity.

Julia Vilariño is a rising star: she began her career in 2021 and she started teaching in 2023