A journey through the five senses
The five senses enable us to collect and retrieve memories, they are portals that allow us to experience the world around us. With this collection I want to spark the viewer’s own experiences by stimulating their perception.
Each hat depicts a moment in time where I felt joy through one of the senses. The materials and techniques I used reflect my heritage, curiosity for experimenting and interest in sustainability; these include bioplastics, cane, recycled copper, crochet, straw, hemp and deadstock fabric.
Smell: Jasmine in the wind
My body relaxed as I picked the scent of jasmine in the breeze, it hugged me like a mother.
Jasmine in the Wind represents the sense of smell. Here I recall a moment when the scent of jasmine was so intense that it felt like I was wrapped in a comforting hug. I used steel mesh and millinery wire to create a cloud around the wearer’s face; I shaped the mesh by hand to look soft and motherly, conveying a sense of protection while looking delicate. The hat is finished with crocheted jasmine flowers, delicate tulle and beading. The use of crochet is the sustainable element of this piece; it’s a very old craft that cannot be replicated by a machine.
Sight: Sun Glistening on the Water
We looked at the sea, in silence, while he smoked a cigarette. We just stood there, blinded by the glistening sun on the water.
Sun Glistening on the Water is connected to the sense of sight. A turquoise fabric covers a pebble-shaped brim, finished with crystals that shimmer like sunlight on the water. The sustainable element of this hat is the use of deadstock fabric and bukram.
Taste: Salty Lips
It was at sunset, I was swimming toward the gold-pink light of the folding day. Wanting to grasp every minute, make the moment count – the taste of salt on my lips.
Connected to taste, Salty Lips is a piece that wants to recreate the structure of salt crystals. Shaped like a crown tipped to one side, this piece is made of copper from electrical waste, bioplastic and millinery wire. Bioplastic is obtained by combining a gelling agent, in this case gelatine, with glycerin and water, making it fully biodegradable.
Sound: Waves Crashing on the Rocks
We found a rock to sit on, waiting in excitement for the next wave to hit the rocks. Water splashing so high it fell on us like rain. We screeched and laughed, absorbing the energy of the storm.
Waves Crashing on the Rocks is centred around a memory of two kids hearing the sound of the rough sea in a storm. This piece is made with rattan cane and bioplastic, two simple materials that combined together produce a stunning effect.
Touch: Footprints in the sand
We saw a bat flying onto the takamaka tree, feasting on the fruit. The sand was soft under our feet, washed away by the gentle waves, as we held hands.
Footprints in the Sand, is connected to the sense of touch. Here I describe a moment in which the sand and the water dance together under my feet. I chose braided straw as the key material for this hat because of its organic properties and its flexibility. Combined with teal tulle and crystals, the straw gently arches over the wearer like a goddess crown.
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Roberta Cucuzza London 