Hat Block Makers

 

Hat Block Makers

This list focuses exclusively on traditional wooden hat block makers. While blocks are also produced in materials such as metal, foam and 3D-printed forms, The Millinery Retreat works only with wooden blocks and this resource reflects that practice.

Australia

Hat Blocks Australia
HatBlocksAustralia

Melbourne Hat Blocks
MelbHatBlocks

United Kingdom

Boon & Lane
Boon&Lane

Guy Morse Brown Hat Blocks
GuyMorseBrown

Hat Blocks Ireland
HatBlocksIreland

MacCulloch & Wallis
MacCulloch&Wallis

Philip Treacy Hat Blocks
PhilipTreacy

The Hat Circle
TheHatCircle

Europe

Artipistilos (Italy)
Artipistilos

Didier Laforest (France)
DidierLaforest

Easy Hat Blocks (Latvia)
EasyHatBlocks

Hat Blocks Poland (Kacprzak)
HatBlocksPoland

Maison Michel Atelier (France – internal/couture)
MaisonMichelAtelier

The Hatting Company
TheHattingCompany

Custom & Independent Makers

Many skilled block makers work independently and accept commissions directly. Availability is often limited and enquiry-based.

Buying Second-Hand

Second-hand blocks are an important part of millinery. Dedicated groups on Facebook such as Milliner Mates in Australia and Milliners Exchange internationally can be valuable sources, alongside broader platforms like eBay and Etsy.

Always consider the condition of the block and how it has been used.

Respect & Integrity

Hat blocks are intellectual property.

Copying, whether by casting, scanning, machining, or replication, is not acceptable practice. If a particular shape matters to you, purchase it from the maker or source it legitimately second-hand.

Professional integrity sustains this craft.

A Note on Hat Blocks

Hat blocks are not just tools - they are collaborators.

A well-made block supports clean lines, takes pins well and improves your work. A poor one will fight you at every stage.

Experienced milliners tend to own fewer blocks than expected, but better ones.

Why Quality Matters

Good hat blocks hold crisp, intentional shapes, withstand steam and repeated use and they age well over time. Poorly made blocks may warp, chip or splinter, produce inconsistent shapes and ultimately undermine otherwise careful work.

A good block is a lifetime tool.

When choosing blocks start with restraint.

A small number of versatile, well-balanced shapes will teach you far more than a large collection you rarely use. Avoid novelty forms early, as they tend to limit learning rather than expand it.

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At The Millinery Retreat our working collection includes over 700 traditional wooden hat blocks, available to experienced milliners through dedicated Hat Block Library sessions.

This page is a curated working list and will continue to evolve as new makers are identified.
Information current as at March 2026.

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