Stories & Resources:
Are you ready to wear a Hatling?
Krisztina talks about her designer approach ‘PinkPunk’.
My grandfather was an architect and my father a painter. The family expected me to follow their steps in the art-field, but I never though I had enough talent, so I had a career in something completely unrelated.
Over the years people often commented on my personal style and even suggested that I should look into a change of direction and have something to do with fashion. Later, when I moved to England and ended up in Chelsea surrounded by more stylish people than I ever could have dreamt about I had an idea.
I was invited to a real English wedding and as I had no real clue as what to wear, I did some research, and there they were the HATS! I fell in love! I ended up wearing a vintage beehive-hat and felt like the most glamorous creature in the world! I had to learn to make them so I signed up for a taster course at the Kensington and Chelsea college and loved every minute of it. I applied for a proper course that autumn, so that is how it all started.
I had the fortune to study with Ian Bennett, an amazing hat artist, who has a uniquely modern style. He opened my eyes and mind to different shapes and colours than the traditional headwear. I don't like to call my creations hats (because they are not) and I don't like the word fascinator, so after much brainstorming with my friends on Etsy (of which more in a minute) we came up with the word HATLINGS. So there, I make hatlings!
Kankalina is the brand name and I make commissions for all ages and styles, actually their "democratic" nature is one of the things I so enjoy: a hatling can be worn by young and mature, thin and voluptuous, classic and quirky there is a shape and colour combo for everybody. For my ‘ready made’ collection PinkPunk I make hatlings for the younger market, strong colours and unusual shapes.
I set up my e-shop on etsy, an amazing marketplace for all things handmade. My shop is: www.kankalinhats.etsy.com. This spring I'm working on a new collection based on new and modern materials Nylon, plastic and crystals, and trying to get some celebrity endorsment for the hatlings. I also do a lot of marketing online and I feel 2008 might be the year of the hatling.
Krisztina
Please come and join us. 