My entry into the Melbourne Cup 2025 VRC Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award was inspired by the road trip I took around Australia this year.
This headpiece reflects the stark beauty of the Red Centre—where spiked Spinifex mounds scatter across iron-rich red plains under piercing blue skies. Handcrafted cotton wattle blossoms reference Australia’s iconic national flora, a symbol of resilience in the harsh desert landscape.
Crafted entirely on the road—in our bus-turned-studio—it features over 300 individually hand shaped feathers, layered across a sculpted wire brim and button.
A quiet tribute to Country and movement – a distilled expression of the vast, textural beauty of Australia’s interior.
Check out the story behind the hat here:
I’ll be back in the studio from mid-November 2025, bursting with inspiration from all the places, people, and colours I’ve seen along the way. Can’t wait to get back into the studio and bring it all to life!
Abigail x
