“You can leave your hat on, baby”
In the midst of a midwinter frenzy of fattening dinner party invitations, faux Christmases, dress-ups and icy dips by water fanatics, Rhonda Mowat’s hat parties add an element of something different.
If you’ve dreamed of hosting a no-mess party where all the catering happens by itself and its success is measured by the constant giggles and incessant chatter, a hat party is definitely for you. All you have to do is ring your fashion-conscious male and female friends and enjoy yourself.
Hat-maker Rhonda Mowat will prepare the nibbles, bring the wine, and most importantly, the boxes and boxes of handmade hats to be tried on by all the mad hatters amid much comment and compliment. It is wise to bring a chequebook as, although you are under no obligation to buy, you are likely to fall in love with one or two of the fabulous and affordable creations.
Rhonda’s business, “Crowning Glory – Hats for the Hedonist,” is about hats that are “fun, funky and functional” says their Nelson-based creator. After 12 years, Rhonda still makes all her hats on an ancient treadle machine and hunts op-shops for retro-fabrics and chiffon scarves, adding frou-frous and synthetic fur for a dash of pizzazz.
“I did a couple of workshops on hat-making and was living in Little River on Banks Peninsula at the time, and just could not find enough work. I started making hats a little bit and then I thought ‘Right, I am tired of being broke, I am going to make hats full-time’.
“I didn’t have any power there so I found an old treadle machine at the local antique shop and although I have an industrial machine now, I still sew with the old machine, which can go through the thickest material. I like to use as many retro fabrics and reusable fabrics as I can get and revamp them. I like old materials being reused and mixed with new fabrics.”
Party host Margy Meys invited Rhonda over to the Bay after receiving comments about her own hat collection. Margy met Rhonda at the Nelson market, becoming a regular customer, and the two developed a long-standing friendship.
“It’s so quiet here in the winter and this is something fun to do. I get so much pleasure from looking at other people wearing these beautiful hats,” she said.
Dave Myall, partygoer and proud hat owner, said it was interesting how his hat drew attention the morning after he bought it.
“Two people approached me in the supermarket, commenting on my hat, and I said I went to a hat party and they said, ‘Oh, why wasn’t I invited?’”
For hat party bookings call Margy on 525 7540, or contact Rhonda on 0274 314 274 or <rmowat@clear.net.nz>.
Ina Holst
