Learn to make your own Traditional Regency "Sandy" Bonnet.
Milliner Neil Fortin of Thomas Fortin will be artist in residence in the Berdoulat Shop from 7th-14th September. He will be displaying his beautiful work, and making pieces in store. Come by and see his creations, chat to him about the making process, and witness some remarkable millinery in action!
Neil will also be running a workshop in the Berdoulat Shop on 11th & 12th September in The Vaults below the shop. Learn to make your own Traditional Regency "Sandy" Bonnet over a two day workshop run by Neil in The Vaults beneath the Berdoulat Shop. The ticket price includes all base materials (inner buckram, wire, binding and accompanying haberdashery materials, pre-cut to pattern). The top fashion fabric, ribbons and feathers are to be supplied by the attendee, and a selection of the same will be available to purchase at the workshop.
The making process will be historically accurate, with a focus on hand sewing. Whilst this will not be too demanding for beginners with no millinery experience, some sewing experience is required (backwards and forwards stitch knowledge).
Over two days, Neil will teach you how to make a traditional Regency "Sandy" Bonnet as follows:
Day 1 Under structure brought together, with buckram wired up in to 3D shape.
Day 2 Covering the under structure with "fashion fabric".
It will likely take longer than the workshop period to finish your hat. Neil will supply a clear list of "homework" for you to finish off the hat yourselves at home (where to place ribbon / feathers etc.). Neil will be in the Berdoulat Shop as artist in residence for two days following the workshop, and will be available to offer any further advice as required.
Neil Fortin
Neil is a graduate of Boston University in America with an MFA in Costume Production, and additionally holds a Bachelors degree in History from Providence College. Fortin has most recently completed designing Opera Omaha's production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Opera Columbu’s production of Tosca. Prior to that Fortin designed Boston Baroque's L'incoronazione di Poppea and Sondheim's The Frogs for the Boston Conservatory. Next on his roster Fortin is designing a immersive production of Mozart’s the magic flute in Hong Kong. Additionally Fortin has collaborated with his partner to create Thomas Fortin Menswear production 100% English silk men’s accessories. Fortin has also worked with the American Repertory Theater, The Huntington Theater Company, Pegasus Early Music Festival, Commonwealth Shakespeare, Actors Shakespeare Project, The Walnut Hill School, and the Metro Stage Company.
Fortin excels in period tailoring as well as corsetry and period dressmaking. Millinery and crafts work are also in his arsenal, with attention to period and light-handed detail. While Fortin enjoys costume production, he is also facile at design work, and understands that the way clothing is constructed affects the design-driven outcome.
