Taught in the London atelier
Masterclasses
Two days at the block beside Monika Perlińska, in very small numbers. Foundations at £600, or Couture from £800.
Two classes
Choose your Masterclass
Both run over two days in the London atelier, in very small numbers, taught by Monika herself. The difference is where you are starting from.
Millinery Foundations, £600
Two days, seven hours. For complete beginners and for those with some experience who want to refine it.You block and finish two headpieces, one in felt and one in straw, from shapes and colours chosen in advance.
Couture Millinery, from £800
Two days, ten hours. For those ready to go further into advanced couture technique.One individual piece, discussed with you beforehand and shaped entirely around the design and the methods you want to learn.
For beginners and improvers
Millinery Foundations Masterclass
A two-day hands-on introduction to traditional millinery, for complete beginners and for those who already have some experience and would like to refine their skills.
You create two finished headpieces, one in felt and one in straw. Shapes and colours are chosen in advance, so each participant makes pieces that reflect their own style. It runs over two days to let the blocked materials dry and set naturally.
- Price
- £600
- Length
- Two days, seven hours
- You make
- Two headpieces
How the two days run
Foundations, day by day
Day one, three hours
The foundations. You are introduced to the essential materials, the specialist tools and the traditional techniques of professional hat making. We explore felt and straw, their properties and how each behaves during blocking. You then block both pieces by hand on traditional wooden blocks.
Day two, four hours
The pieces come off the blocks and become finished hats. You learn to refine the shape, finish the edges and the interior, and work through methods of trimming and detailing in ribbon, fabric and other millinery materials.
What you take home
You will leave with
All essential materials and tools are provided. The second day finishes with afternoon tea, with the chance to enjoy it wearing one of the hats you have just made.
Two finished headpieces
One in felt and one in straw, both made by your own hands.
Hand blocking
Practical experience of blocking over traditional wooden hat blocks.
Professional finishing
How edges, interiors and trims are finished to couture standard.
Materials and tools
What the essential millinery materials and specialist tools are, and how each behaves.
A supplier list
A curated list of trusted suppliers for materials, blocks and specialist tools.
In the atelier
From the Masterclasses
Advanced technique, shaped around you
Couture Millinery Masterclass
A highly personalised two-day experience for those wishing to explore advanced couture technique and create a truly individual headpiece.
Before we begin we discuss your ideas, the techniques you want to learn and the piece you want to make, and the programme is tailored to you. We may work in felt, straw, fabric or a combination, incorporating feathers, crinoline, millinery wire, buckram or Paris net.
Because every project is individual the final price is set on the complexity of the design, the techniques involved and the materials required.
- Price
- From £800
- Length
- Two days, ten hours
- You make
- One couture piece
Ten hours, divided to suit the project
Couture, day by day
Day one
We explore the materials chosen for your design, their properties and the techniques suited to them. Together we refine the construction and begin the foundation, which may mean shaping millinery wire, blocking, or building a base in buckram or Paris net.
Day two
Developing, refining and completing the piece. Final shape, construction, finishing and decoration, using whichever techniques the design calls for: sculptural forms, feather work, crinoline, fabric manipulation, or several together.
There is no fixed design and no standard project. The Masterclass is shaped around the techniques you most wish to explore and the piece you would like to create.We finish the second day with afternoon tea and a glass of Champagne.
Your tutor
Monika Perlińska
Both Masterclasses are led by Monika Perlińska, founder of Maria Monica London and a milliner with over thirty years in the craft.
Throughout her career Monika has worked in some of London's most prestigious millinery ateliers, including Philip Treacy and Jane Taylor London, creating hats and headpieces for private clients as well as for couture collections and runway presentations.
The Masterclasses are an opportunity to learn directly from that experience, combining traditional technique with the professional standards used in couture hat making.
Before you book
Questions
Where are the Masterclasses held?
In the Maria Monica London atelier in London. The address is confirmed when your place is booked.
Do I need any experience?
Not for the Foundations Masterclass. It is designed for complete beginners as well as those with some experience who want to refine their skills. The Couture Masterclass suits anyone wanting to go further into advanced technique.
What does the price include?
Both days of tuition, all essential materials and tools, the pieces you make, a supplier list, and afternoon tea on the second day. The Couture Masterclass finishes with a glass of Champagne.
Why does the Couture Masterclass say from £800?
Because every project is individual. The final price is set according to the complexity of the design, the techniques involved and the materials required, and it is agreed with you before anything is confirmed.
How long is each day?
The Foundations Masterclass is three hours on the first day and four on the second. The Couture Masterclass is ten hours in total, divided between the two days according to your project.
Why are they spread over two days?
Blocked felt and straw need time to dry and set naturally on the block before they can be finished.
How do I book?
Places are not sold through the website. Send an enquiry, Monika agrees the date with you herself, and a payment link follows.
By arrangement
Take a place at the block
Places are agreed personally rather than bought through the shop. Send an enquiry with the dates that suit you and what you would like to learn, or book an appointment to talk it through, and Monika will reply herself.
Enquire about a place
Tell Monika what you would like to learn
Two lines is enough. Monika reads every enquiry herself and replies within one working day to agree a date, and a payment link follows once the place is confirmed. You can also write to contact@mariamonicalondon.com.