When I first started making hats in 2005, I used a saucer that was luckily the same size as my head. Then I learnt to make them to measure and sold a few semi toppers and proper toppers. Then people started to ask for custom hats. I tried that for a bit, but ran out of steam. If I’m making a stage hat, I can leave it on the shelf for a year while I find my way around a making problem, but when someone pays half up front, you have to keep at it till it’s finished – That’s not practical. I may sell semi and proper toppers again, but no more custom jobbies. This page is a gallery, and below, you’ll find an exhibition of some extraordinary hats )

Contents

Unofficial Sponsorships
Hat Collection 2012
Hat Collection 2007
Commissions

Ash

Unofficial Sponsorships
Big, big thanks to the folk at Husqvarna studio in Bath for their unofficial help and sponsorship

http://www.husqvarnastudiobath

Also, thanks to Simon the Upholsterer, Drift Stormbarger, Dom Allen, Dot ‘n’ Den, Bex ‘n’ Coz and Dave Batley for their gifts of leather.

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COLLECTION 2012

I made many of these hats gradually between 2007 and 2012. Many have never been seen before and represent new paradigms. I’ve been more careful about bringing the new ideas out since sharing some over the net with an American crochet milliner and having them stolen. Apparently it’s called “aggressive entrepreneurship” (theft is theft in my books).

COLLECTION 2012

Semi Trichorn
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)

Ash Mandrake

Bananas In The Sky
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)

Ash Mandrake

Mandrake The Wizard
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)

Ash Mandrake

The Bardic Brigadeer One
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)

Ash Mandrake

The Prehistoric Vampiric Pumpkin Bud
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)

Ash Mandrake

The Raspberry Ripple Flavoured Liquorice Alien Sort Of Thing
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)

Ash Mandrake

The story goes like this: A group of alternative medics, fed up with receiving too little galactic publicity, launch a capsule containing information about homeopathy into space. The capsule reaches a tiny planet located in a distant solar system. The microscopic aliens on discovering the information, launch one of their buddies by cannon into space. He/she/it disintegrates and eventually reaches earth in an extremely dilute, but magnificently powerful form. He/she/it passes through the open window of a corner shop and then through a bag of “liquorice all sorts”, before ending up head first in a tub of raspberry ripple flavoured ice cream. The alien, intent on beating the crap out of all humans, unfortunately (for him/her/it) sublimates as a two foot tall Raspberry Ripple Flavoured Alien Sort Of Thing. (copyright Ash mandrake 2011)

Title to be revealed at a later date : One
(Photography by Matt Ainsworth, crop by ash Mandrake)