An elegant extravagance in hats
- Valérie's favourite pieces are the hats she creates for shows and carnivals
- She is largely inspired by elegance in women's fashion
- Her grandmother also practised millinery
Trained as an art historian, Valérie Formery was working in an art museum when she felt the growing desire to create with her own hands. “I decided to follow in the footsteps of my grandmother, a milliner herself,” she says. “As a child, I used to play with ribbons and silk flowers with her.” After taking courses, Valérie opened a workshop and launched her hats under the name of Rosalie Bibi. She works with felt, sisal and mouldable straw, and is especially drawn to working with materials that have a particular character, such as buntal or silk abaca. “I love elegance, which in my artistic approach translates into simple, understated and effective shapes,” she explains. Valérie also creates hats for shows and carnivals. “The hats that surprise people the most are my favourites."
Interview
- What life lesson have you learned from your craft?
- In the field of creation, and in the face of other creators' work that amazes, you learn humility and gather fresh inspiration.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- It is important for me to perpetuate the tradition of moulding felt or straw on wooden hat blocks. I sometimes innovate by repurposing everyday wooden objects, such as dishes or lids, to mould new shapes.
- What was a turning point in your career?
- I received invaluable reassurance during my first participation in Belgium’s Artisan Day event, for which artisans open their doors to the public. At the time, I had just established my workshop and was working on a hat for the Venice Carnival, and people’s encouragement pushed me to continue on the path making festival hats.
- Is there a special connection between your craft and the Carnival of Binche?
- I make particularly extravagant hats for the Carnival of Binche, a celebration that is part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Tradition dictates that women wear hats that match their husbands' extraordinary costumes, using feathers, flowers or other original decorations.
Valérie Formery is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005
Where
Valérie Formery
