Celebrates: Milliner Mona Strand has made extraordinary hats for 20 years. (Photo: Nils Petter Aaland)

“She entered the store wearing a floor-length gown, hood and large sunglasses”. Mona Strand has made ​​hats for royalties and American superstars. This year she celebrates 20 years as a milliner.

The anniversary is celebrated through several arrangements, including an anniversary exhibition.

Royal Hats

Last Friday, the exhibition Veksthus opened at the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Oslo. It is an installation of different hats and headgears made in collaboration with textile artist Marianne Pedersen.

Strand is actually a trained hairdresser, but changed her mind and started the National Academy of Art and Design in Oslo, Institute for Clothing and Costume.

– I always crawled towards the top – instead of making clothes I expressed myself through hair or hats. I am very interested in African hairstyles and the women wearing them with great pride, she says.

During her 20 years as a milliner, Strand also received the honor of making hats to several prominent people, including the Norwegian royal family.

– They have been very nice to work with. I cannot talk much about it because I will not disclose my clients, but Crown Princess Mette-Marit likes a simple style.

Several of Mona Strand’s hats will be on display at the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in September 2014. (Photo: Annar Bjørgli/Nasjonalmuseet)

American Superstar

Another prominent guest who has visited Strand’s shop is Janet Jackson.

– Two black cars stopped outside the store and a woman came out. She entered the store wearing a floor-length dress, hood and large sunglasses. When she took off her glasses, I saw whom it was. She bought a men’s hat, and left, Strand says and adds:

– I took my two sons to the supermarket and bought ice cream to celebrate.

Norwegian Actress Linn Skåber wearing one of Mona Strand’s fascinating hats. (Photo: André Clemetsen)

Favorite Coat

Mona Strand makes about 100 hats per year, and has her own workshop and store in Oslo. She tells that customers can bring their favorite gown or coat and she will create a hat that match.

Her headgear is described as colorful, creative and humorous. They are visual and textile studies in a borderland of apparel, textile, sculptural forms and portable sculptures.

The exhibition is displayed at the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design until September 21.

Text by: Anette Broteng Christiansen, ThorNews

Source: National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design

Categories: Culture, Design