CHELTENHAM FASHION WEEK: Three hats come to life in front a packed audience at Cowley Manor

Cheltenham Fashion Week offered local fashionistas the chance to see three bespoke headwear pieces come to life. Three milliners worked their creative magic, producing unique hats using top secret materials provided by Cheltenham Fashion Week just days before. The resulting designs were then showcased at Cowley Manor alongside the milliners' latest collections.

 Showing their headwear design talents were, Catherine Povey, Ani Townsend and Holly Young. Each milliner has a rich history in the hat design world, with Ani Townsend having created pieces for Madonna and the Harry Potter films, Holly Young spent months with renowned couture milliner, Philip Treacy, and Catherine Povey holding an impressive portfolio of commissions. 

Cowley Manor provided the perfect venue, as a packed audience filled the Bar & Sitting room to watch the hats take shape. The three milliners set to work before the guests moved through to the dining room to enjoy a meal and catwalk show displaying a collection of headwear peices. 

Modelling in the catwalk show was Heart FM’s model competition winner, Rebecca John. Having beaten dozens of other model hopefuls, Rebecca was chosen by Heart FM and walked alongside Cheltenham Fashion Week models, wearing a sleek, contemporary LK Bennett dress and sky high heels. The national clothing chain is a favourite of the uber fashionable Duchess of Cambridge and the Promenade store in Cheltenham kindly agreed to loan the dress and shoes from the latest collection.

 Sam Bawden, Cheltenham Fashion Week founder and creative director, said “I am so pleased with the way the evening turned out, the atmosphere was electric and the event was a huge success thanks to a packed audience, fabulous hospitality from Cowley Manor and sensational hat creations from our talented milliners."