Finding joy in hats
- Mabel's inspiration comes from her clients and their joy
- Quality, for her, means to create something that seems unstudied
- She studied philosophy while learning her craft
Silky, textured and coloured fabrics have been Mabel Sanz's passion since she was a child. She also loved sewing, and so she decided to study fashion and design in Madrid. However school disappointed her and she left, deciding to learn by herself. Hats came as a kind of revelation. “I realised I wanted to devote as much time as possible to hats. It’s something different from designing clothes. It is a very special kind of creation,” she says. She began to work with prestigious Spanish designers including Jesús del Pozo, Devota y Lomba, David Delfín, Elio Berhanyer and Alma Aguilar, who were fascinated by her elegance and her singular technique.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
I use my hands as a support to iron materials instead of hat blocks. It makes me feel free in my creation process. The other thing is my flowers. I decided to handcraft them myself. They are actually like pearls. They became my personal signature, unique and exclusive.
No, I don’t. There is a lot of low cost competition in my field. But a handcrafted haute couture hat is like an investment, like a piece of art. I don't follow any trends, just my own fantasies. It gives me profound happiness. I can’t see it as just a business.
To discover what the client is seeking takes a long time when you make a hat. You need a long process, not to hurry. It’s difficult to prepare materials and colours. You need concentration and accuracy. I am very intuitive. I need time. Everything is made to measure in my workshop.
I'm not innovative. I don’t like technology, I am a craftswoman. All my pieces are timeless and depend on sizing, wires, steam and ironing. Then I prepare the dye in hot water or in alcohol. I make my hats from one piece. Innovation for me is perfection.
