Happy 20th Birthday The House Of Hats

This year marks 20 Years since The House of Hats began — and even writing that sentence feels surreal.

What started as a small creative dream has grown, changed, paused, reinvented itself, and somehow endured through every season of my life. Businesses don’t usually last this long, especially creative ones, and especially ones built slowly, by hand, with heart rather than hype.

Twenty years ago, I began making hats because I loved them — the romance, the history, the craftsmanship, the quiet confidence a beautiful hat gives to the person wearing it. I never imagined how deeply intertwined this business would become with my life, or how many chapters it would quietly witness.

Over the years, The House of Hats has lived in studios, spare rooms, shopfronts, arcades, market stalls, and now online. It has survived economic downturns, personal upheavals, moves between cities and states, changing trends, changing bodies, changing priorities — and it’s still here.

That alone feels worth celebrating.

This brand grew as I grew.
It evolved as my taste evolved.
It slowed down when I needed to slow down.

There were times when I chased momentum, and times when I learned that rest and refinement mattered more. There were collections, commissions, bridal pieces, couture moments — and now, a gentler return to wearable, everyday hats made slowly, one at a time, with intention.

I no longer believe a business has to be loud to be successful. Or constant. Or exhausting.

I believe in longevity.
I believe in craftsmanship.
I believe in making beautiful things that last.

Thank you for being here..

If you’ve ever worn one of my hats, supported my work, followed along quietly, or checked in over the years — thank you. Truly.

Small businesses don’t survive 20 years without real people on the other side. Your support has meant more than you probably realise, especially during the harder chapters.

As The House of Hats steps into its third decade, it does so with more clarity, more softness, and more trust than ever before. This is a quieter era. A slower one. But one rooted deeply in experience, skill, and love for the craft.

Here’s to 20 years of hats, stories, reinvention —
and to whatever the next chapter holds 🤍👒👒👒

BY THE SEASIDE - Our SS23/24 Collection

The House Of Hats Newest Collection….’ BY THE SEASIDE ‘ is here just in time for summer.. Step into a world of timeless charm and elegance.

Get ready to elevate your summer style with The House of Hats latest collection of stunning handcrafted hats!

Made from only the finest material and inspired by the timeless fashion of the 1930s our new collection is the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe.

Offering nine new original handcrafted styles exclusive to our brand each delicate piece has been expertly handcrafted in our Sydney Studio by renowned Milliner Ilana Meilak, ensuring that every hat is of the highest quality and designed to last.

We’ve added our signature style of adding vintage trims and buckles to this collection to keep it authentic to the era.

Whether you’ve looking for a stylist for a day at the beach, a chic addition to your summer outfit or simply want to make a statement at your next event, our new collection has something for everyone.

So why wait? head over to our shop to view tghe full collection or pop into our Sydney Showroom to try them all on in person.

Trust us, you wont be disappointed…..

ilana is wearing our AHOY MINI BOATER in French Navy

Watch our ‘ BY THE SEASIDE Campaign Video to view the Collection

MERRY CHRISTMAS From The House Of Hats

Just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas , Wow can you believe how fast has this year gone.
We've had a super busy year creating our new Sydney showroom and meeting some amazing new clients and existing ones.
We have some new arrivals just in time for the party season and lots more coming early next year so stay turned.
We are also now offering hat repairs and restorations so if you have a hat that needs so love you can send it our way to bring it back to life.
Thank you to every one of you who supports our small business it means the world to us, we are so proud to be Australian made & owned.
We are so looking forward to you all visiting our new showroom in 2023 , we have so many ideas in the works for the year ahead so it's going to be a fantastic year..

Wishing you all a very Safe  Merry Christmas & a Happy new year !!! 
Love your Milliner ..

See you all in 2023 !!

ilana x

One of my favourite Christmas Songs - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Gift Cards are now available to purchase

SPRING is Finally Here

SPRING is finally here , wow what a whirlwind of a year we all have had, it's been a very challenging year for all of us, I hope you have all been well and safe through this pandemic and wishing us all better times ahead.

We haven't stopped creating and have new exciting styles coming soon.
We will be adding some new coloured straw hats to our ' Folk ' Range and will have options of different brim sizes.
We have sourced some incredible sixties pattern fabrics and trims and we are excited to show you.
For our International hat lovers coming into the cooler season we haven't forgotten about you.
We will be introducing some wonderful new colours to our Felt Hat Collection you are going to love these.
So you now have the choice of hats to wear all year round
Our Hats are such beautiful high quality durable to wear everyday and will last you a lifetime.....

We have had such a wonderful response to our new ' CHRYSALIS ' collection and are selling out fast, these hats are limited and are mostly one offs due their vintage fabrics and trims so once they are gone there gone, so if you have your eye on something grab it before its gone forever

We just wanted to say a huge Thank you for all your ongoing love & support for our small business this year.
It gives us such joy to see our hats on you and you enjoying wearing them.

CHRYSALIS COLLECTION 2020

Emerge from the darkness into the light and be transformed back to the nostalgic sixties into a world of hypnotic colour and wonder.

The House Of Hats Summer Collection ' CHRYSALIS' let's you spread your wings and express your true self.

Enjoy the ' Fluttering' new Women’s Hat Collection with Sunshine, Daydreamer and Wonderland.

Taste our Summer Wine and let the butterfly within you fly.

Shop The House Of Hats New Millinery collection now with beautiful handcrafted couture hats and headpieces all one of kind. Perfect for the warmer summer months and all year round.

Handmade in our Sydney Studio

View The House Of Hats ' CHRYSALIS ' Full collection

The House Of Hats ‘ CHRYSALIS ‘ Collection offers you a wide variety of Hats, Headpieces and accessories.

Beautiful rich colours to turn heads and stand out from the crowd.

The House Of Hats couture Millinery all handmade in our Sydney Studio by milliner Ilana meilak.

The House Of Hats’ FOLK ‘ Hat collection offers you a range of beautiful high quality hand blocked straw Hats is a variety of colours.

Wide brimmed for maximum sun protection in the warmer days and detailed with hand embroidered raffia flowers.

‘ FOLK’ is a stunning everyday hat to brighten up your day.

A classic style hat that will last you years to come.

Shop our ‘ CHRYSALIS ‘ Collection now or contact us to create your very own custom made hat for any occasion made especially for you.