Sara Wendy Oliva

Milliner

©Valeria Gilardi

Handmaking the ultimate accessory

Sara Wendy is a milliner who advocates for the uniqueness of handmade hats
She uses vintage and recycled materials
Her creations are made for theatre productions and for private clients

"A hat is the ultimate accessory," says Sara Wendy Oliva. “The right hat will always be your best ally, highlighting features and expressing your personality." Sara Wendy believes millinery can truly change how women dress and feel. Her fashion and art studies led her to Central St. Martins college in London, where the city, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy became her main sources of inspiration. "It took years of hard work before opening my workshop," says Sara Wendy. Today, her pieces are a mix of tradition and innovation, inspired by her enthusiasm and creativity. She makes a conscious choice to use vintage fabrics and recycled materials to make her hats and fascinators, in line of the sustainability concerns of the modern day artisan.

Interview

©Valeria Gilardi

©Valeria Gilardi

Why did you choose to make hats?: I have always liked unconventional fashion, and for me, hats are the ultimate accessory. I also believe that crafting with my own hands and from my own drive is an added value to the final piece and makes it a unique choice for the wearer.
How do you feel about the fashion industry in 2025?: I do not feel comfortable with fast-fashion and mass production. I care about feelings and individual personalities. It means a lot to me to create from scratch, using recycled materials and giving new life to fabrics that otherwise would end up in landfills.
Is there a special meaning in owning a handmade piece?: These days people wear clothes driven by what marketing suggests. I fight to promote the charm of wearing a unique piece made just for you, with every seam and detail made strictly by hand. It is the perfect imperfection of craftsmanship.
What does your crafting process look like?: I make my hats using the traditional technique of moulding on wooden hat blocks. I reuse vintage fabrics and materials, and since most of my work is on commission, I am often the one to hand-dye the fabrics.

Sara Wendy Oliva is a rising star: she began her career in 2019 and she started teaching in 2022