THE BOWLER HAT TURNS 175

Lock & Co. Hatters are proud to be working with the Royal School of Needlework, and together our goal is to preserve and promote British Craftmanship. In 2024, the iconic Coke hat celebrates its 175th anniversary.

Lock & Co. has partnered with the Royal School of Needlework for RSN x Bowler Hat to commemorate this milestone. The collaboration is a testament to the artistry of British heritage craftsmanship in creating and showcasing an exclusive range of 12 bowler hats, each with a unique design and embellished using handmade ribbon work. Each beautiful bowler hat has its own story, brought to life by the meticulous finesse and design skills of the RSN degree students

As inspiration I looked at the historic background of Edward Coke with a particular focus on the family estate of Holkham Hall in Leicestershire.  I researched images of the gamekeepers that would have worked on the estate and the typical clothing that they wore past and present, mainly tweeds and bowler hats! During my research one image that I came across was of Gabrielle Chanel in a bowler hat enjoying country pursuits. This led me to look further at her use of tweed fabrics with the iconic Chanel jacket created with textured Linton tweeds. Tweed is a textile synonymous with UK country life and has a far claim to British national dress. 

The tactility of the materials, threads, and stitches that I use is of paramount importance and so for the embroidery on this ribbon I have used a range of materials to create texture and interest. The choice of black, grey and green for the colours reflects my own interest in working with simple palettes as well as representing nature, urban environments and business dress. 

I aimed to create a ribbon that creates links with British national dress, couture fashion and the commemoration of the Bowler hat.