Hi! I’m Nessa

My passion for hat making began in 1996 when I started working at a hat shop in Dublin. From that moment, I knew my future was in the world of millinery. In 2001, I opened my first business, Mad Hatter, and later became known for designing award-winning hats and headpieces for events and fashion shows across Ireland.

By 2004, I had a unit at the Curragh Racecourse open on race days, and I was supplying over 60 boutiques around the country with hats and headpieces.

In 2010, I had the opportunity to purchase one of my largest boutique customers, Vanity Fair in Newbridge. There, I experienced the full spectrum of fashion retail. While millinery remained a significant part of my Vanity Fair life, we dressed customers from head to toe. It was an absolute honour.

But millinery still remained my main passion, nothing finishes off an outfit for a special occasion better than a hat. In 2014, when President Higgins and his wife Sabina visited the Queen, she purchased six of the eight hats she wore from me in Mad Hatter, the excitement was real let me tell you!!

In 2019, I decided to share my expertise by offering hat making classes. I found a deep joy in teaching others the craft, and it was clear that millinery was just as magical for my students as it was for me. Now, I’m thrilled to bring my experience to an online hat making courses, offering you the chance to learn from anywhere. Join my online millinery courses and discover the joy of creating your own hats, whether for a special occasion or just for fun!