about this event
This 2.5-hour workshop offers an introduction to the art of millinery, exploring its sculptural qualities through wire forming, fabric flowers and embellishment. You’ll learn to manipulate cotton-covered wire to create a headband, before exploring flower-making techniques. Experiment with a range of colours, petal sizes and embellishments to develop your own design. Your finished flower will then be stitched onto the headband, resulting in a distinctive accessory that reflects your individual style and creativity.
Pasquinelli Millinery is an atelier dedicated to creating high-fashion and editorial pieces that elevate identity, define silhouette and celebrate individuality. Founded by Italian milliner Virna Pasquinelli and based in the Surrey Hills, the atelier is distinguished by its seamless fusion of classical elegance and urban modernity. Each piece is crafted as wearable art in which sculptural form, function and precision converge.
Collaboration lies at the heart of the atelier. Pasquinelli works closely with both established and emerging designers, including Karina Bond, Tolu Coker and Joshua Kane, creating bespoke pieces that expand and enhance their collections. The atelier’s work appears in runway shows, editorial features, film and theatre productions, and high-profile events.
As a member of the British Hat Guild and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, Pasquinelli is grounded in the discipline and precision of traditional British millinery. Her extensive training under leading milliners including Philip Treacy and Piers Atkinson endowed her with technical mastery and a deep understanding of the craft. Drawing on this foundation, her atelier is a space where classical expertise is combined with contemporary creativity, ensuring each piece is both meticulously crafted and conceptually rich.
Alongside her studio practice, Virna teaches within prestigious programmes such as The King's Foundation and Chanel’s Métiers d’Art initiatives, supporting the continuation and evolution of millinery craft. Through the HatLab Academy, the atelier opens its doors for intimate, hands-on workshops, offering immersive experiences that allow participants to engage directly with couture techniques, cultivating patience, precision, and a sophisticated understanding of form and materials. In addition, private atelier experiences provide a rare and personal insight into the craft of couture millinery.
Guided by values of creativity, craftsmanship, collaboration, education, and sustainability, Pasquinelli Millinery creates headwear for individuals who value artistry, individuality, and expression. At its core, the atelier transforms millinery into a language of identity, each piece a statement of presence.