As Featured in ' ERA ' Magazine - Celebrating 20 Years of Millinery
The House of Hats is truly honored to be featured in ERA Magazine celebrating 20 years of millinery!
We’re thrilled to share the full article, which dives into our journey, the heart of our business, and features beautiful shots of our hats from our “ LE CHAPEAUX “ collection.
A huge thanks to Eleanor for a stunning issue! we’re incredibly grateful for the recognition—head over to ERA magazine to order your copy and enjoy the full story!
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 🤍👒👒👒
HAT SALE - Enjoy up to 20%
Hi Hat Lovers,
As you already know we’ve moved to Queensland and we are overflowing with hats in our new studio so we though it would be a great time to have a hat sale on selected current ready made hats, accessories & vintage hats..
Enjoy up to 20% off, head over to our online shop to shop now….
Thank you all for supporting our small business
Happy Winter with love,
Your Milliner
Ilana Xx
Goodbye Sydney
🕰️ FAREWELL SYDNEY 👋
After a lifetime in Sydney… I’m moving
Born and raised here, this city has shaped every part of me. It’s where I fell in love with vintage fashion, taught myself to sculpt hats by hand, had two retail shops and where The House of Hats came to life.
But life is shifting, and like the song says… “The rest is still unwritten.”
I’m packing up my little showroom and heading to Queensland to begin a brand new chapter. It’s emotional and a little overwhelming, but also full of hope, growth, possibility and big dreams...
To all the beautiful clients who stepped through my Sydney doors — thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ll be sharing the journey as it unfolds, and I hope you’ll keep walking with me.
Here’s to trusting the unknown, starting fresh, and letting the next chapter write itself 💫
See you on the other side
It's Our 18th Birthday....
The House Of Hats just celebrated it’s 18th Birthday,
Never in my wildest dreams would I believe that i would have a successful business that I created from dust, let alone the journey The House Of Hats has had in it's 18 years.
From fashion editorials, tv shows and celebrities wearing my creations and two shops and a Showroom later, it's been a ride.
Fast forward 18 years and in the most beautiful showroom of my dreams that I created I can truly say that i'm blessed.
I absolutely love what I do and they say if you love what you do , you never work a day in your life...
Thank you to everyone who has supported my dream along the way, you don't go unrecognised, to all my amazing clients past & present.
I'm so excited to what the future holds for The House Of Hats!!
Heres to the dreams that come reality and to the future that holds endless possibilities.✨
Your Milliner
ilana
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
NEW ARRIVALS - Our Rhinestone Hair Barrett & Brooch
TWO HEARTS - Black Felt Two Hearts Rhinestone Hair Barrette
New to our shop is this super glamorous Black Felt hand cut double heart hair clip , featuring a rhinestone trim
Vintage inspired and oh so old Hollywood …perfect with a vintage hair style or just to bling up an outfit .
Available now to purchase in our online boutique
ARROW - Black Felt Rhinestone Arrow Brooch
Our ‘ ARROW ‘ Brooch is a unisex brooch handmade from luxurious velour felt
and hand cut into the perfect arrows shape with Sparkling Rhinestones.
Silver Metal pin in the back to attach it to your hat or jacket.
Perfect for a groom or a special event.
RODNEY MODELLING OUR ‘ ARROW ‘ RHINESTONE BROOCH
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
