What is the proper name for a hat maker?
The terms milliner and hat maker (or hatter) are generally used interchangeably these days.Strictly speaking though, a milliner makes women’s hats (at any level - the higher end are model milliners, which is largely what I trained in), and a hatmaker (or hatter) makes men’s hats.In the past it wasn’t unusual for milliners, especially in small towns, to buy in pre made hats, and just add the trimming to the preference of a customer. They were still milliners, even if not making.I still like to use the distinction, because the skills and techniques used in each, while overlapping are actually quite different. I’ve trained myself in traditional hat making, because it’s not really taught anywhere, but it’s very different than what I learned as a millinery student.For example, not many men’s hats use a wire frame covered with buckram and fabric (although they can); while not many women’s hats are made in heavy felt, then sanded and flamed (traditionally a man’s hat would literally be set alight during the finishing process).
Why did people wear more hats in the past?
People wore hats more in the past because of social context and evolving technology. The societal norm in the west is to bare one's head indoors. That means we saw more hats in the past, but we saw them outdoors. As already mentioned here, hats convey social status, style, shade, and warmth... outdoors. Two major technologies have had a devastating effect on hat manufacturing. Firstly, climate control drove everyone off the streets and into offices. Modern ductwork, clean and smoke free work spaces, reliable heat and air conditioning have swept people out of the streets. The other culprit over the last forty years or so is the electronic office. Not only is the office more comfortable from a climate perspective, but we have been burdened increasingly by telephones, faxes, email and video conferencing to the point that we seldom leave the confines of home or office for fear of being disconnected. The fedora, bowler or panama hardly has a chance to get settled before we duck back inside and must doff it once again. There is hope however from mobile technology. Perhaps smart phones and tablets will allow the office drones to walk the streets once more. Bright sunshine and LCD screens could lead to a renaissance of wide brims to shade our screens. I hope so.