The best reason for anybody to do anything is that they love doing it. From within, a feeling grows and resonates. For some, it becomes an integral part of self-identity.
Piroska Mueller loves creating hats. She was born in Remscheid, a small city in West Germany’s industrial heartland, at a time when women routinely wore hats.
At a young age, Piroska decided she wished to become a milliner—a designer and creator of fine women’s hats. The word “milliner” was coined in the 16th century in reference to Milan, the Italian city where the best hats were made.
Piroska’s certification as a German Master Milliner followed eight years of apprenticeship, night school, and nerve-wracking board exams. She is justly proud of this accomplishment.
Before moving to the Comox Valley with her husband in 2011, Piroska operated her own atelier and shop in Dusseldorf, Germany, and had agents selling her fine hats in Paris, Milan, New York, and Berlin.
She has always made each hat herself, and no two are exactly alike.
Rabbit-fur felt and straw, shaped by hand
The body of each of her creations is made from materials she loves to work with: rabbit-fur felt and straw, either woven or braided. These can be difficult to source nowadays, but Piroska has her connections within the industry and remains supplied.
The softness, water resistance, insulating properties, and light weight of rabbit-fur felt make it an exquisite material for hats. The cones that form the hat’s crown (the part that touches the wearer’s head) are felted in Europe; Piroska does the rest. The brim is shaped after the crown is finished. Embellishments with various carefully selected materials follow.
The straw Piroska uses for warm-weather hats comes from Europe and Ecuador. She steams, moulds, and trims the factory-made cones into their finished shapes and then she embellishes each hat with ribbon, feathers, or whatever comes to her mind.
“There is something almost magical when a visitor is fitted and sees her reflection in a mirror for the first time”
The art of finding the right hat
In the world of fine hat fashion, there is no such thing as “one size fits all.” Piroska has an extraordinary talent, honed after years of experience, to “fit” women—that is, to find or design a hat that suits each of her clients in size and style. The fitting process is integral to her craft, so Piroska does not sell hats online unless she has previously “fitted” her client in person.
I think it’s a pity that hats are no longer in fashion. They provide protection from sun in summer, add warmth in winter, and, like shoes and glasses, enhance a person’s appearance when chosen with care. They are fun to wear and feel divine.
There is something almost magical when a visitor is fitted and sees her reflection in a mirror for the first time. She stands taller and smiles. These transformative moments are why Piroska has always loved designing and making beautiful, one-of-a kind hats.
Piroska welcomes visitors to her studio in Black Creek. Email her beforehand to let her know you’re coming.
