Origin of MillinersMillinery has existed in Britain since 1700. In English courts the term 'Milliner' was used, this derived from the term for travelling haberdashers from Milan in Italy. These travelling sales people sold all the items necessary to dress and were called Millaners. In France hats were made by Hatmakers called Chapeliers, today the term Modiste is used. Although technically a hatmaker makes hats for men whilst a milliner makes hats for women, many make items for both genders. Hat Tax Hat Tax, much like window tax, was levied by the British Government in 1784 as a way of taxing citizens according to their wealth without resorting to income tax. This tax was introduced by Prime Minister Pitt the Younger, and forced hat sellers to acquire licences. The Hat tax used a tiered tax system dependent upon the cost of the hat with mandatory tax-revenue stamps pasted in their lining.It is thought that this is when Fascinators started to evolve as an alternative to hats. Many milliners and hat-wearers tried to dodge the tax by decorating their creations with flowers, bows and feathers claiming that their headwear wasn't actually a hat. This form of evasion became so widespread that it led to government amendments to the legal definition of a hat in 1804. Why We Wear Hats Humans have covered their heads since time immemorial. Initially headwear offered protection from the elements and from injury by weapons, falling rocks or masonry. Later, head coverings became symbols of status of authority and soon progressed to become not only a uniform, but also an art form. In fashion terms, hats are a very noticeable accessory because the onlooker’s attention is first drawn to the face. A hat is the most noticeable fashion item anyone can wear and can often make a statement. In the 1940's Dunn & Co Hatmakers used the advertising slogan 'if you want to get ahead, get a hat', a phrase still used today. |
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