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Islanders Invited To Get A-Head By Making 'Showstopping' Hats For Sandown Bay Regatta

Shilling Showstoppers On The Way To A Sandown Hat Parade, 1970s. Photo courtesy of Sue Jackson.

Islanders are being invited to help Sandown Carnival get a-head by creating their own showstopping hats.

These will be in the style of Gertrude Shilling for next month’s Sandown Bay Regatta, and will be part in a series of hat-making workshops in early August.
 
Workshop places can be booked online.
 
Gertrude Shilling was known affectionately as the 'Mascot of Ascot' with her outlandish, often madcap headwear.

Island Artist Teresa Grimaldi (left). Photo by Tracy Mikich and (right): Joel Lines at the 2023 BA Fashion Class show, Central Saint Martins. Photo courtesy of Joel/ Central Saint Martins.
 
She had a close connection with Sandown, parading her hats on the Esplanade and crowning the town’s carnival queen in 1975.
 
The workshops are suitable for adults and children over the age of 12 and you'll learn new skills to work on up to six Shilling Showstoppers to feature in the Grand Regatta Hat Parade on Sunday August 13.
 
The workshops will be led by Island artist Teresa Grimaldi and up-and-coming designer Joel Lines who recently wowed public and celebrities alike at the acclaimed 2023 BA Fashion Class show at Central Saint Martins in London.
 

Regatta Hats Are Back, illustration for Sandown Carnival by Katie Stone.
 
Joel said:
 
"Gertrude Shilling’s bold, dramatic and theatrical approach to hat-making is both impressive and humorous and has some parallel to the upscaling elements I’ve been using in my work."
 
The hat-making workshops will take place at Sandown's Boojum & Snark on the first three evenings of August between 6pm and 9pm.
 
Sandown Carnival’s project to revive the hat-wearing tradition at the town’s annual Regatta is supported by the Arts Council England Heritage Lottery Fund.

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