Meaghan Armstrong’s passion for fashionable hats was pretty much born of necessity.
“Being really fair and a redhead, I needed to wear hats,” she said.
The trick was finding something she liked and that went with whatever outfit she chose to wear.
“When I started thinking about how often I’d have to wear a hat, I thought, ‘Why not make one?’”
So, she bought a pattern and got to work, but what began as a personal pursuit turned into a business in 1998. That’s when Armstrong opened Le Petit Chapeau.
After doing business in Elora, she set up shop in downtown Barrie. She was there for 13 years before deciding to hang her hat in Orillia.
She opened her doors at 5 Peter St. S., Suite 206, in late-August during the Starry Night Studio and Gallery Tour.
It seemed like an appropriate time, as she treats her job as an art. After all, she did used to work as a costumer in theatre and she has a degree in fine arts.
But who is buying fancy hats these days — custom-made ones, at that? A lot of people, as it turns out.
Armstrong said her customers, male and female, include “teenagers to 90-year-olds.”
Some are brides-to-be; some are travellers looking for something both fashionable and practical to protect them from the sun while on vacation; others are losing their hair because of chemotherapy, alopecia, or naturally.
“I want it to have function but also look good,” Armstrong said. “Those two, for me, are equal.”
While she also sells pre-made hats, it’s the custom orders that bring her the most gratitude.
“We’ve had people burst into tears when they try on their hats,” she said.
While she has her clientele, custom-made hats can be a tough sell these days.
“Right now, people do not have a high perception of fashion, and that’s because of fast fashion,” she said. “Longevity of style is revolutionary in our age of fast fashion. I’ve always made things with the idea that you’re going to be bored of it before it falls apart.”
It’s a concept that seems to be making a comeback despite the convenience of fast fashion. People are paying more attention to the effects on the planet.
“The level of waste and what it’s doing to the environment is more well known. They’re becoming more aware of the morality of what they’re wearing,” she said. “It’s not just a thing you put on your body. We make conscious decisions about what we wear.”
Likewise, Armstrong makes conscious decisions about what she uses to make the hats. She sources high-quality, long-lasting material and recycles her fabrics, saving the off-cuts for another project.
Those who want to check out her work in person can stop in at the shop, which is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone is also invited to her grand-opening celebration Sept. 28 from 4-8 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP, email [email protected] or visit littlehatshop.com.
