Catherine Kelly creates glamorous, original hats using beautiful designs, exquisite materials and quality workmanship. Embellish Atelier hats and headpieces have featured in magazines including Bride, Sydney Bride, Laud Magazine, The Hat Magazine and Ladies in Racing.
In 2020 Catherine celebrated 30 years of teaching millinery at Sydney Community College. Having learned to sew as a young child with her mother and dressmaker grandmother she then trained and taught as a Home Economics and Textile and Design Teacher. In 2007 she made the transition to teaching millinery. She regularly teaches at schools though her work is primarily focused in her studio and online. She also tutors at events e.g. at the Hats Off to Brisbane convention and the Sydney Quilt and Craft show.
Career Highlights include: Collections for Liberty of London, a full range of a spring collection at David Jones in 2009. First place in several categories at Royal Sydney Easter Show in 2009, the Public Prize Chazures-Sur-Lyon in 2009, and winner in several millinery sections at the Royal Melbourne Show in 2017. Invited to assist with the Opera Australia team for the production of the hats for My Fair Lady. Showcased spring racing millinery on Channel 10 – Studio 10 segment in 2017 and 2019.
In 2015 Catherine established ‘Hattember’, an annual project aimed to encourage people to wear hats every day both for sun protection and style. This growing international millinery competition raises funds for her family charity – the John Skipper Kelly Fund.
In 2019 Catherine was invited to collaborate for The Hat Project with Penrith Regional Gallery bringing together the stories of the stolen generations of aboriginal women in recreating hats from old photographs.
Catherine is available for any hat related challenge in her beautiful French inspired Atelier in Rozelle, Sydney.
Embellish Atelier, 128 Victoria Rd, Rozelle, NSW 2039
www.embellish-hats.com