Paper is a product that most of us encounter and interact with on a daily basis. Did you know that paper is basically a nonwoven textile? Its bonded structure is quite similar to the interlocked and matted structure of felt. Paper fibers are cellulosic in origin and come from wood pulp, rice pulp, recycled paper or fabrics, etc. Paper occasionally has a fashion moment, for example, crepe paper hats in the 1920s and pop art printed paper dresses in the 1960s.

To encourage creativity and foster camaraderie across our membership, we proposed a summer challenge: create a hat or fascinator that is at least 70% paper. Members could choose conventional or unconventional materials. Conventional included paper pulp materials that are available from a millinery supplier. These are often marketed as an inexpensive straw alternative and common trade names include toyo, shantung, and paper cloth. Unconventional included materials that might be found at home or at an office supply or art store such as newspaper, art paper, crepe paper, etc.

The Milliners Guild is excited to share the incredibly unique hats from the Pulp Fashion challenge. Milliners embraced a variety of materials from packing paper to card stock and experimented with new techniques including folding, shredding and bonding. Across these designs there is an air of whimsy and play: a nod to familiar forms like an origami paper airplane or a colorful paper cocktail umbrella, even a reference to the classic newsboy cap. Others were inspired by more abstract themes such as nature, transformation, or fashion history. Member Barbara Volker’s hat took on an organic form and she notes that “Nature’s examples - hard work, resourcefulness, collaboration, originality, perseverance, competition, adaptability, etc. - inspire me to explore new techniques [and] materials…”

Amongst our membership, we have a paper expert, Judith Solodkin, who is an internationally renowned master printer. She used a lithograph on handmade paper to create her hat. She explains: “In 1977, I hand printed a series of 27 unique lithographs drawn on stone in multiple colors entitled Cartouche. In 2025, I transformed one reject proof into a paper 3D hat adding a feather made from Japanese paper and a fabric lining. This process represents a full circle reflecting my interest in fine [art] prints and couture millinery.”

Pulp Fashion highlights the versatility of paper, the ingenuity of milliners and the joy of making.