Aaron Keppel: a milliner for sartorial adventurers
Hats off to an artist who creates theatre for the head
Hats off to an artist who creates theatre for the head
“I’m not your grandmother’s milliner,” declares Brooklyn-based, bespoke hat creator, Aaron Keppel of id. And indeed, his one-off creations are not the least bit staid or predictable. A trained sculptor, Keppel is considered by many to be a king of creative headgear, and his imaginative designs grace stylish events (think the Met’s Costume Institute Gala) on both sides of the pond.
Keppel works collaboratively with clients – whether in person in New York, or by phone and email – to design a hat that not only suits its wearer, but also the occasion. Every hat is entirely custom-made, right down to the fine details that are id’s point of distinction. The process of commissioning a hat is simple: photographs of the client are taken – as are measurements – and Keppel then works up numerous, highly detailed sketches of each design. Once a style is chosen, Keppel sends photographs of the commission in progress.
Unlike many milliners, Keppel doesn’t limit himself to felt, fabric or straw (though he is happy to fashion a simple sun hat or fedora from those materials), but instead seeks out vintage fabrics and trims, feathers, mother-of-pearl, unusual flowers, bamboo, twigs and moss – “any material that can be manipulated”, explains Keppel. Recent commissions have included a laurel-wreath-inspired tiara, an eye-catching silk butterfly with a 2ft wingspan (second picture) and a fantastical owl made entirely of torn and pasted rag paper (third picture).
Keppel is strongly influenced by nature and architecture, and botanical gardens and the works of Antonio Gaudí are a particularly rich source of inspiration. From simple vegetal motifs comprised of handmade flowers (first picture), to intricate structures made of wood veneer, commissions can take anywhere from two weeks to two months and typically range in price from $800 to $4,000, depending on the availability of materials and the intricacy of the work involved.
“My clients tend to be people who are somewhat daring,” explains Keppel, “and these hats are definitely something you won’t see anywhere else.”