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Felt
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Horn at Baxter Hart & Abraham reports white as the colour of choice for 2024 so far. For the warmer climate in Australia, House of Adorn has been supporting its customers with vibrant hues including greens, oranges, yellows and cobalt. At Judith M Millinery Supply House,
the colour choices made by customers are profoundly influenced by the themes of race days. A myriad of pinks dominates the Kentucky Oaks, aligning with the charitable partnerships of the Breast Health Program at Norton Cancer Institute and Horses and Hope. The day includes the Survivors Parade for breast and ovarian cancer survivors, which is highlighted with a pink theme. The iconic choice of red also reigns supreme in the main race at the Kentucky Derby, known as ‘the Run for the Roses’, where the victor is adorned with a lush blanket of 554 red roses. Winter always brings a shift towards a
more conservative colour palette, with traditional choices of black, burgundy, brown and navy dominating the felt materials reported across suppliers.
New to the market
The discussion around sustainability is an important concept and one that should be considered. Both businesses and consumers must conduct research to determine their stance on sustainability – concerning people, the planet, and profit – and the best alignment of this with their
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values. While materials and their natural origins are often at the forefront of sustainability discussions, it is crucial to strike a careful balance and consider the ramifications of substitutes. There is no definitive right or wrong approach to achieving this balance; rather, it boils down to personal preferences and where one puts the emphasis on one’s values. The exploration of leather and its
alternatives has been a focal point at House of Adorn. “Regarding faux leather (i.e., plastic-derived),” they note, “we have heard it is much harder to shape them for flowers and blocking, though for trimmings they are good as the soft kinds have some stretch to them. Some milliners have been using our faux leather-look spandex for covering bases as this has a great stretch and similar look; however, this only comes in black, so is limited.” Meanwhile, Judith M has delved into
the realm of imitation and synthetic sinamay. This material, owing to its synthetic composition, offers a broader spectrum of colours that are notably more vibrant and uniform.
F a
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New production of classics
A common comment by longstanding makers is that many traditional base materials are no longer available. Discussions about the legendary sparterie fabric, originally produced from wood and tarlatan, may sound like a myth to those new to the industry, with any remaining original material treated like gold. But how can suppliers move forward with this challenge? The industry has seen the introduction of thermoplastic in recent decades, which brings an alternative in some scenarios for designers but also offers new opportunities. The use of buckram, also known as 20/20, as a base material remains
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