Milliner - Career Advice - Manufacturing and Production

Manufacturing & Production

Practical Artistic or Creative

Milliners design and make hats and other headgear such as caps, berets, bonnets, fascinators and bridal headpieces, using materials such as felt, fabric, fur, leather, straw, artificial flowers, ribbons, braids and feathers. Future Growth Static

Milliners mark out and cut patterns to create designs for hats. They then cut out the various components and assemble the hat. This may involve twisting, rolling, folding, reinforcing, sewing, steaming and pressing various components. They may also alter or renovate hats. They may also be involved in displaying hats or preparing them for sale.

OSCA Codes

ANZSCO Codes

OSCA ID & Description: Technician Trade Worker x60 399433: Milliners design and make hats and other headgear using a variety of materials.

Alternative names: Female Hat Maker,

Specialisations: Working in the Theatre or on Films. They are usually part of the Costume Designer's Department.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A milliner needs: Rose hat

good vision for detail work and good hand-eye coordination
to enjoy creative or artistic work
to enjoy practical work
patience and perseverance
an understanding of fashion trends
enjoy practical and manual activities
artistic sense of colour and design
understanding of and interest in fashion trends.

Duties and Tasks

Milliners may perform the following tasks:

interpret fashion trends and use them in designing hats and other headgear
mark and cut patterns to desired shape and size, lay the pattern onto fabric and cut around it
shape, cut, twist, roll, fold and reinforce fabrics and other materials with wire to gain desired effect
assemble hats by hand or using a sewing machine
steam and press material into shape by hand and, if needed, stiffen it by using a special solution
sew trimmings such as ribbons, buckles, braids or chains onto hats
operate semi-automatic blocking machines for mass production
alter, renovate and re-block (re-shape) existing hats
package and dispatch hats for customers
display, fit and sell hats and accessories.
highly skilled milliners create designs in fabric or on paper that can be followed by other milliners.

Period Hat

Strawhat

Did You Know?

Millinery has existed in Britain since 1700. In English courts the term milliner was used and this was derived from the term for travelling haberdashers from Milan in Italy. These travelling sales people sold all the items necessary to dress and were called millaners.

Model wearing head piece

In France hats were made by hatmakers called chapeliers.

Today the term modiste is used in France.

Today technically a hatmaker makes hats for men whilst a milliner makes hats for women.

(Source: Fashion Era)

Working conditions

A milliner would normally work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday. They usually work in an air conditioned workshop. If they work in a large organisation they may only perform one part of the process and so the work can be very repetitive.

Milliners employed by mass-production firms usually perform single tasks, such as trimming hats with ribbon or sewing in headbands. Milliners making 'semi-model' (limited production) hats hand trim shapes that have been moulded by machine. Highly skilled milliners create designs in fabric or on paper that can be followed by other milliners.

Tools and technologies

Milliners need to be proficient with a number of hand tools for working the various components as well as traditional and specialist sewing machines.

Iron & Ironing Board
Quilters Holding Clip
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Pens
Markers
Pins

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a milliner, you usually have to complete a Certificate III or Certificate IV in Millinery.

Employment Opportunities

Most milliners are self-employed or work for small, boutique retail businesses, selling model (one-off) and semi-model hats. Milliners who wish to start up their own business usually have a lot of experience and require the necessary start-up money and business ability. There are limited opportunities to work in hat manufacturing firms that mass-produce hats by hand.

Did You Know?

Australia makes Akubra Hats

It takes 6 weeks to make an Akubra hat. There are 162 steps in the process. Each hat is handled 200 times in manufacture, passing through 60 pairs of hands.
(Source: Akubra)

Queen Mary wearing an Akubra Hat

A Choice Fit For A Travelling Queen (March 2026)

Born in Tasmania and spending much of her life overseas, Queen Mary’s choice of Akubra's the Traveller speaks volumes.

Designed for journeys near and far, the Akubra Traveller is perfect for globe-trotters and homecomings alike. Its classic shape, durable construction, and versatile style make it the go-to hat for anyone navigating both the Australian outback and international adventures.
(Source: Akubra)

Do you know which country Queen Mary is Queen of?

Denmark!
Look it up!

Manufacturing & Production

A hatter designs, constructs, and repairs male hats using traditional and modern techniques, specializing in materials like felt, fur, or straw. While "hatter" often refers to men's hat makers and "milliner" to women's, both involve detailed artisan work in crafting, trimming, and finishing headwear. Key tasks include taking client measurements, cutting patterns, shaping material on blocks using heat and steam, sewing, and adding trimmings like leather braiding, buttons or even crocodile teeth! Future Growth Static

Hat makers work by hand and machine to create new hats and head wear, or repair or alter existing hats and head wear.

A hatter's hats have to stand out from the run of the mill cheaper versions. This is becoming harder and harder has the cheaper versions have flooded the market.

OSCA ID: Technician Trade Worker x60 399433

Alternative names: Hat-Maker, Male Hat Designer, Hat Maker, Hat Designer,

Hatter working
(Source: Schools Look4)

Specialisations: Top Hats,

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Precision cutting, meticulous sewing, knowledge of hat-making techniques, and strong attention to detail.
Proficiency with design software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Knowledge of different fabrics and materials
Excellent sketching and illustration skills.
Strong understanding of fashion trends and consumer behaviour
Experience with pattern making and sewing techniques
Ability to work well in a team environment
Good communication and presentation skills
Proven experience as a hat designer
Excellent sketching and visualization skills
Knowledge of fashion trends and materials
Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
Excellent organizational and time-management skills
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Experience serving people in a shop or working in a small business is also helpful
Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred

AI states

Hat makers need to have:

knowledge of hat-making techniques
knowledge of hat design
knowledge of pattern making
knowledge of sewing methods
knowledge of different fabrics and materials and how to use them effectively
creative ability
design and sketching skills
cutting, sewing and measuring skills
people skills and business skills for running their own business
knowledge of how to use and care for equipment

Famous Male Hats in Movies
Harrison Ford as Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. The sable fur felt fedora with its deep pinched crown and wider-than-standard 3½-inch brim is the most recognizable hat in cinema history. It has been replicated by nearly every custom Western hatter in North America and sits at the top of every list like this one. Supposedly unable to stay on the actor’s head; in fact, specially weighted and stitched to Ford’s head through the action sequences.	Indiana Jones’ Fedora — Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Captain Jack Sparrow’s Tricorn Hat – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Franchise	Johnny Depp gets his due credit here with Captain Jack Sparrow’s tricorn hat. This hat was a common accessory for men in the American Colonial times, but nobody rocks it quite like Sparrow. He has a humorous relationship with the hat throughout the films, always losing and retrieving it in slapstick ways.
Paul Hogan as Michael J. “Crocodile” Dundee. The Akubra pre-creased outback hat with a wide brim and a band studded with crocodile teeth introduced the Australian bush-hat tradition to global audiences and triggered a massive surge in Akubra sales through the late 1980s. Akubra remains synonymous with Australian hatmaking, and the Dundee hat remains its definitive cinematic appearance. When Aussie icon Paul Hogan first donned his teeth adorned Akubra I doubt he ever could have imagined just how much of a international sensation Crocodile Dundee would become. So successful, in fact, that the film remains, to this day, the top earning Australian film at the box office. The world fell in love with the croc wrestling, knife bearing, hard case larrikin Mick Dundee. It's no doubt, that Crocodile Dundee is one of the most recognisable movie characters of all time, due in no small part to one of the most recognisable hats of all time.	Mick "Crocodile" Dundee (1986) That's not a knife, THIS is a knife!
Aaron Pederson as Officer Jay Swan Mystery Road (2013)	Aaron Pederson stars as brooding Indigenous detective Jay Swan in this critically acclaimed Australian western crime movie. Pederson’s character is a one-man line of defence in his outback town, battling crooked cops and local drug dealers in his rather stunning customised white cowboy hat. The oversized hat renders Officer Swan as instantly recognisable character in the films sequel, “Goldstone” and television series that followed the hit movie.
Directed by celebrated Australian director Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby is a glittering narrative of the morality, or lack of, required to achieve the all-American dream of success in the post-war world of 1930’s New York. As with all Luhrmann films, the attention to detail in the costuming on The Great Gatsby is exquisite mostly because of Catherine Martin. In one of the films more memorable scenes, Gatsby, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, drives his yellow convertible to New York City like an absolute madman wearing a striking straw boater, which was a common choice of recreational hat for wealthy men at the time.	The Great Gatsby (2013) Catherine Martin (Baz Luhrmann's wife) won two Oscars for The Great Gatsby in 2014 - one for set design and one for costume design. Read this great Australian's story here.
	Willy Wonka’s Top Hat – ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971) The 1971 musical fantasy film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, follows Charlie Bucket, a kind but impoverished boy who wins a once-in-a-lifetime tour of a legendary, reclusive candy maker's mysterious factory. After finding one of five Golden Tickets hidden in Wonka chocolate bars, Charlie and four other children enter a whimsical world of Oompa-Loompas and candy-themed inventions, only to face a series of moral tests disguised as "accidents" that eliminate the children one by one.
Not many Australians will forget the feels we all got when we first watched Tom Burlinson battling for his honour against a ranch-load of unjust, brawny station hands who blame him for the loss of a prized horse, winning the hand of the station owners daughter, played by Sigrid Thornton, in the process. Although he had no riding experience, Burlinson insisted on doing his own stunts in the film. When it came time for him to chase a herd of wild horse down a steep cliff face, he not only refused to step aside for a stuntman to do it, but also got the stunt in a single take. In 1988 he starred in the long-waited Snowy River sequel, The Man from Snowy River II, called Return to Snowy River in the US and The Untamed in the UK.	The Man from Snowy River (1982 & 1988) Tom Burlinson as Jim Craig.
	The famous fedora hats John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd wore throughout the movie - The Blue Brothers Why is this important now....? Carlton AFL Fans have taken on the theme and come as a block to any Carlton games.

Duties and Tasks

Design and Consultation:
- Creating new hat styles based on trends, or discussing custom requirements with clients.
- Create new hat designs for various seasons and trends
- Collaborate with the production team to ensure designs are functional and feasible
- Assist with creating mood boards and colour palettes for upcoming collections
- Research new materials, techniques, and trends in hat design
Production (Making):
- Communicate with suppliers to ensure materials are sourced in a timely and cost-effective manner
Sales and Marketing:
- Work with the marketing team to create visual presentations and product descriptions
Blocking: Moulding felt, straw, or fabric bodies over wooden blocks to establish shape and size.

Cutting & Sewing: Drafting patterns and sewing components together.

Steaming/Shaping: Using steam to shape the crown and brim.

Trimming: Hand-sewing or attaching embellishments like labels, leather trim or buttons.

Repair and Renovation: Reshaping, resizing, or repairing damaged hats.

Material Selection: Sourcing and selecting suitable felts, fabrics, and decorative elements.

Displaying products, managing inventory, and handling retail sales, especially in boutique settings.

Working conditions

Look at the following video and note down the working condition for this Akubra workshop in Kempsey.

Touring the 150 year old Akubra workshop in Kempsey | ABC Australia
https://youtu.be/hm_UReLxXlM?si=0VIoNfdWtbA_6eZg

Tools and technologies

Hat blocks
steaming equipment,
specialized needles,
sewing machines, and
trimming tools

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a qualified hat maker you need to complete hat-making courses which are taken as part of the Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design. Those with relevant work experience in the textile industry can apply for the hat-making component only. Sewing and sketching skills are important.

Degree in Fashion Design or related field.
Previous experience in hat or accessory design.
Strong portfolio showcasing creative and original designs.

Useful experience for hat makers includes:

experience working with a milliner
work in the clothing industry or as a fashion designer
handcraft work
tailoring with experience in cutting
experience using clothing production machinery

Employment Opportunities

Employment in this industry is dying as cheap imports took over in the 1950s in Australia.

Did You Know?

The phrase "Mad as a Hatter" predates Lewis Carroll's "Mad Hatter".

Why?

Mercury was used in the manufacturing of felt hats during the 19th century, causing a high rate of mercury poisoning among those working in the hat industry.

Mercury poisoning causes neurological damage, including slurred speech, memory loss, and tremors, which led to the phrase "mad as a hatter".

In the Victorian age, many workers in the textile industry, including hatters, sometimes developed illnesses affecting the nervous system, such as central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis.
(Source: Wikipedia)

"Mad Hatter" Character Jug as created by Royal Dalton.

Manufacturing & Production

A Milliner Assistant works with milliners to help with the design and production of hats and other headgear. You might be involved in creating fashion hats, work hats or special occasion headgear such as fascinators or bridal headpieces.

You’ll collaborate with designers and customers and assist with aspects of the production process such as preparing materials, taking measurements and creating patterns. You might have to make sample pieces or make alterations to finished products. Future Growth Static

Milliners design and make hats and other headgear such as caps, berets, bonnets, fascinators and bridal headpieces, using materials such as felt, fabric, fur, leather, straw and artificial flowers.

OSCA ID: 399433

Alternative names: Female Hat Maker's Assistant,

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A Milliner Assistant should be creative and be aware of current and future trends in the industry. You’ll need to be a team player and be able to liaise with designers, customers and production workers. Milliner Assistants need a good eye for detail and should be able to interpret designs and follow instructions.

Good hand sewing skills
Some millinery experience
Enjoy practical and manual activities
Good hand-eye coordination
Artistic sense of colour and design
Patient and able to persevere
Understanding of and interest in fashion trends
Experience working with feathers, crinoline, veiling, felt and sinamay
Good English

Ideally he/she would have good sewing skills, some millinery experience and buckets of energy! Must be upbeat, positive, diligent, hard working and a team player. You will be part of a busy, happy and creative team. Jobs will include lots of hand sewing, working with feathers, veiling, felt and crinoline as well as some administrative tasks such as packing hat boxes and post office trips.

Milliner's Assistants creating hats in Paris
(Source: Hat Talk)

Duties and Tasks

Good hand sewing skills

Pins, bastes and drapes garment parts.

Cuts out master patterns.

Sews some hats under direction of Milliner

Fits basted garments on customers and marks areas requiring alteration under direction of Milliner

Lays up and cuts fabric

Takes finished product to Post Office for distribution

Completes any task assigned by Milliner

Working conditions

A milliner's assistant would normally work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday. They usually work in an air conditioned workshop. They might have to work longer hours if they have a commissioned job or working in the Theatre.

Tools and technologies

Iron & Ironing Board
Quilters Holding Clip
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Pens
Markers
Pins

Education and training/entrance requirements

If you’re planning to begin a career as a Milliner's Assistant, consider enrolling in a Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology - TAFE Course. This course is a great introduction to the industry and will explore basic design concepts. You may decide to further your study with a Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology.

Employment Opportunities

There has been stable job growth in the millinery industry in Australia in recent years. The industry employs a small number of people though and there are currently 180 people working as a Milliner or Milliner Assistant. Milliner Assistants will generally find work in larger towns and cities.