The art of showing up
- Nada’s millinery is inspired by her career in photography
- She uses traditional tools and historical materials
- She collaborates with block makers and small workshops
Nada Quenzel first became aware of the power of hats while photographing people. "I saw how a hat could transform a person – without it, they often seemed exposed, somehow not quite whole. Even their small shifts in posture caught my eye,” she says. Before photography, Nada studied product design in Wismar, where Bauhaus ideas shaped her understanding of form and function. When she realised her work had become more about screens and pixels than about materials, Nada felt the pull toward something more tactile – millinery. Today, Nada uses traditional tools and historical materials to create pieces that belong to the present from her atelier in Berlin. “A hat is not about dressing up, it is about showing up. And often, that begins with being seen,” she says.
Interview
- How did you learn the craft of millinery?
- When I started looking for teachers, I already had a clear vision and first designs. Eventually, I found a milliner in Solingen who taught me the basics, such as materials, tools and traditional techniques, and gave me the confidence to build on them. Even today, workshops still bring me joy, as there is always more to discover.
- What does your atelier look like?
- In my Berlin studio, I offer personal fittings, material explorations and thoughtful advice, with around 250 designs to choose from. I also create made-to-measure pieces, in addition to the online and ready-to-wear selections.
- What do you enjoy most about your work?
- I love exchanging with clients – some have been coming to me for years, others are just discovering hats for the first time. Hats often attract people with something to say, and I enjoy being part of that discovery. I appreciate the consultations, conversations and energy they bring into the studio.
- Is there something that people do not know about your craft?
- My craft goes beyond my studio. I collaborate closely with block makers who create the wooden forms, and with small workshops that have been making hat blanks for generations. These traditional crafts are becoming rare, and I feel deeply inspired to work with them and honour their heritage through my creations.
Nada Quenzel is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2013
Where
Nada Quenzel
