Sinamay: un clásico muy actual
It is one of the most commonly used materials in the world of headdresses and headpieces, but what exactly is Sinamay? Sinamay is a material - also called raffia - of natural origin, which comes from the Philippines. It is made from delicate plant fibers such as abaca -or, which is the same thing, pita- and, being so natural, it is very moldable and easy to use in millinery. In addition, since ist´s so fine, one can realize a multitude of forms and styles with it.
Sinamay has a lot of history within the world of millinery and headdresses. Traditionally, it has been and is one of the main materials to make the most exquisite headpieces. We have been able to appreciate it amongst the choices of the most important royal families around the world, both for its elegance and for its versatility. No matter if for bases for Sinamay headdresses, hats or wide-brimmed hat shapes... Sinamay has a multitude of possibilities.
Mehgan Markle at Ascot -2018- with a design made of Sinamay. Source: gettyimages and Elle magazine
At Artipistilos we are very faithful to this material and we have an endless number of models of Sinamay, which adjusts to the preferences of each client. We have Sinamay bases like this one of 14 cm of diameter and our Windsor base. Both are small and very versatile bases, since they can be combined with a multitude of materials such as Sinamay flowers or feathers among an endless number of possibilities.
Very versatile sinamay bases.
One of the most stylish Sinamay base is the heart base, widely used in the world of headdresses as it brings a touch of style and elegance to any look. When choosing this base you may have to think about using a aliceband with it for it to stay in place on the lady´s head. The aliceband also allows you to choose the direction of the base.
Our Wembley base is the synonym of quality and exquisiteness. Why? Because it is made from 3 layers of Sinamay and the edges are finished with a nice trim or bias. These are all small details which make this Sinamay base a good choice for a perfect guest look for weddings.
This Sinamay base also requires a head- or aliceband.
One of the advantages of Sinamay bases is the multitude of volumes and shapes which the market currently offers. At Artipistilos we have opted to stay on top of this trend and for that reason, in our wide catalogue, we have included a great variety of styles of this type of bases. Inna is a leaf-shaped Sinamay base, Village has an inverted hat shape and Cambridge has a more classic design - you see, just a big variety of styles.
Sinamay bases Inna, Village and Cambridge.
The following lateral Sinamy bases already have been a trend for some years, as they are very easy to carry and have a lot of potential when it comes to the trimming part. They are bases to which you can do a multitude of trimmings if you love to customize your own headdresses and please remember that Artipistilos offers a wide catalogue of DIY articles (Do It Yourself),
Buntal basel Richmond and base Berkshire.
Let´s move from the most classic to the most original forms. The Jinsin and the Sinamay Twist base has different possibilities when it comes to placing it on the hat, since it can be shaped and placed according to the preference of the client. On the other hand, Volantis, also made with the material combination of Jinsin and Sinamay already comes in an established shape, however it does not mean that it looses any originality.
A thousand ways, a thousand possibilities.
If we talk about architecture in the form of a headdress, we of course have to mention our headpieces Bletchley and Brighton. Both are made with Sinamay and Sinamay silk which, as the name suggests, is a combination of these two materials.
In the pictures: Models Bletchley and Brighton.
Earlier we talked about the combination of Jinsin and Sinamay. Jinsin is a woven straw material perfect for designing bases for headdresses of many curves and sculptural forms. Sinamay, on the other hand, adds that delicate touch. A perfect combination whose perfect example is the Besoul base.
On the other hand, buntal also combines very well with Sinamay, since both are materials of natural origin. In addition, the strut is very easy to dye, so it has many possibilities. The Hampton headdress is a good example for the nice Buntal/Sinamay combination.
Base of Sinamay Besoul and Hampton headdress.
If you're looking for a more classic look to attend a wedding, based on Ascot's more discreet headpieces or the ones worn by queens and princesses of European royal families, perhaps the following selection of bases is more in line with this style. In order of appearance we can offer you bases: Buckingham, Dorney and Dover.
More classic sinamay bases.
For those who dare to take on more risky looks or the guests who love to wear wide brimmed hat shapes included in their headdress, we have a very special selection. On the one hand, wide-brimmed hat shape Comares, with an ideal size for daytime events for example and, on the other hand, Montoro, a wonderful wide-brimmbed hat.
Wide-brimmed Sinamay hat bodies of high quality.
Other options of great Sinamay headdresses that will make an impression is the following buntal capelina. It is made with high quality natural fabrics and has a see-through stripe that makes it, if that is even possible, more exquisite. Sinamay hat shape Astrid, which is also wide-brimmed is also very impressive. It has a small crown up and its wing is curved downwards.
Buntal Capelina and wide-brimmed hat shape Astrid
Continuing with the hat shapes with wide brims that are so fashionable this spring/summer 2019 we put the focus on "Alameda", available in both light and dusty colors, such as this beige for example, as well as in bright and strong colors. The wide-brimmed Sinamay hat shape Gálvez continues this fine and delicate style.
Sinamay hat shapes are a good choice for any daytime event.
The large wide brimmed Sinamay hat Júcar stands out, highlighting the elegance of any look. A hat shape which is both very ladylike and youthful at the same time. Minaya, on the other hand, is a smaller and less shouting hat but equally elegant. It is curved and the edge is reinforced.
Wide-brimmed hat shapes made of Sinamay Júcar and Minaya.
Who said that traditional hat shapes can´t be fashionable at the same time? Do to the continous changes and evolution of the world of headdresses, Sinamay remains a renewed material, present in both classic and more avant-garde pieces. This is the best proof that classics never die.