To My Colleagues. Memorandum.

You are only as good of a milliner as the inside of your hat. As simple as this. Craftsmanship must NOT be an isolated phenomenon, it must be a full commitment to each and every one of your hats. It must be your philosophy, the skill you endlessly perfect and the single most powerful ingredient that transcends design to the level of Fashion...I have recently came upon several painful examples of badly made hats. What even worse - badly made and overpriced hats. Being a consumer myself, I will never purchase any article of accessory or apparel that lacks craftsmanship and quality. Being a milliner it makes it physically painful for me to hold poorly made hat. When did it become OK to make a hat with stitching exposed, seams falling apart, lining badly attached, grosgrain ribbon sliding back and forth, unevenly cut felt edges, dried glue (glue !!!) showing through fabric - the list can go on and on. Each and every one of you who has an honor of calling yourself a Milliner have to hold yourself to the high standard that the profession of the milliner demands. Anything less is a disrespect to your colleagues, to the consumer and ultimately to the craft. No wonder, I keep hearing from people "well, there is just almost no well made hats around any more" or "dying art!" . Embrace your profession, honor the high standards of millinery design, have respect for the craft or simply stop calling yourself a milliner.