Felts, tules and oversized hats
- Natalia makes whimsical headpieces for everyday wear
- She has created hats for notable clients such as Céline Dion
- Her work is featured in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Natalia Baquero’s journey in millinery began in Montreal, Canada, following her upbringing in a family of artists in Bogota, Colombia. At Cirque du Soleil, she found a unique training ground within the hat and headpiece department. “I was swept into a world of fantasy and extravagance, where I had the space, time and training to master the craft,” Natalia says. During her four-year tenure, she worked as a freelancer in costume design for private clients. She launched her own line in 2017, creating custom styles characterised by bold colours and sculptural shapes. Natalia also works with a collective of 200 women weavers in southern Colombia on a range of straw hats. In 2023, she founded her own gallery and atelier in the Quebec village of Knowlton.
INTERVIEW
I have a gift for colour expression and balance, even when working with bright tones. Ultimately, I want my clients to feel confident and in control of their emotions.
I am not interested in fashion trends. I felt huge creative relief when I decided against pursuing a more traditional fashion route. I enjoy following my own strengths and my intuitiveness with colour.
I am equally influenced by my Latina roots, European craftsmanship, and the Canadian spirit of taking ownership of your work. I connect with these diverse influences in a very fluid and integrated way.
I feel a calling to create more artistic pieces for museums and other cultural institutions. Now that I am more confident in my style, I want to develop a broader range of work, such as masks and elaborate headpieces for exhibition purposes.
