Sofya Samareva

Milliner

©Alexej Sachov

©Juliana Krizova

©Alexej Sachov

Turning heads with her hats

Sofya initially studied painting and graphic design
Irish singer Roísín Murphy wore her hats in a music video
Giorgio Armani complimented her in person

Sofya Samareva's hats are instantly recognisable – with their unexpected shapes, clean contours and bright colours, they make a strong impression. They are made mostly of rabbit fur felt or wool and take many forms, including simple boyish caps, classic brims with unusual tops, headwear resembling haircuts or colourful cacti. All are striking yet elegant, luxurious yet casual. Sofya's work attracts a lot of attention and she has collaborated with several interesting foreign designers. "Malaysia-based menswear designer Moto Guo met someone wearing one of my hats in Paris and wrote to me to say 'Your work is so quirky, same as mine.' And for the Tel Aviv fashion collective Muslin Brothers, I created a minimalist collection made of ropes," she remembers.

Interview

©Alexej Sachov

©Alexej Sachov

Do you prefer to make wearable hats or more artistic pieces?: I really enjoy making sculptures, playing with shapes, not looking at the practical side. But I also love the challenge of creating a chic shape which is unprecedented yet wearable. I like meeting people in the streets who are wearing my hats.
What inspires your designs?: It's always different. For example, the Hair Hat collection originated in my passion for changing haircuts. The Something Unreal in the Real World collection was inspired by my childhood and the tiny things I used to collect. And the Cactus Hats collection was inspired by a desert.
Do your studies in painting and graphic design inform your work?: Graphic design taught me to make intelligible things; for me, creation is a means of communication. I guess graphic design also influenced my conceptual approach – there's always an idea behind my work. And painting gave me a love for colours, which I use widely.
How would you define your typical customer?: Usually, my customers are people somehow connected to fine art, music, design or fashion. I like meeting them in person whenever possible. The funny thing is that my first collection was not aimed at clients; I created it for myself.

Sofya Samareva is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2014