Meet Jenny Mathison-Foster of Bay Willow Design in McKinney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Mathison-Foster.

Jenny, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have a double major in Art History and Design with a fiber emphasis from the University of Minnesota. I was planning on designing fabrics after college and even spent a year in Finland learning the art of weaving. Fate being what it is, I ended up in Chicago and found a job working for Crate&Barrel as a designer working first in the store then eventually moving to the corporate headquarters in Chicago. I spent close to 20 years working for Crate and it was during this time, that I read an article on hat making and was amazed to learn that hats were made over wood blocks. The idea of learning how to make hats in this way was intriguing. The process felt familiar as it contained aspects of both design and fiber arts. It took nearly 5 years of searching to find classes in millinery, but when I did, I knew that hat-making felt like home. Twenty years later, I have collected over 300 wood hat blocks and have moved from a studio above my garage to a shop and studio in historic downtown McKinney. My current work includes both ready-made in the shop to custom hats for the Kentucky Derby, Dallas Mad Hatter’s Tea, bridal headpieces, and everything in between.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The most difficult part of my journey has been first: finding classes and second: collecting/buying hat blocks.

In the United States, there are very few schools that teach millinery. Most colleges that have a fashion department may offer a class or two for their students. I started out by taking a continuing education class at a local college in Chicago. Now, when I want to learn a new technique I will travel to work one on one with a master milliner. Last summer, I went to the south of France to work with British milliner Tracey Chaplin to learn new straw techniques. Because it was so difficult for me to find someone to teach me, I now hold workshops in my studio, private lesson to groups of 5-6. I also bring in other milliners to teach.

There are very few hat block makers in the US and if I do buy new hat blocks I either order from hat block makers in Europe or Australia. I was lucky to find a milliner in the US that was getting out of the business and I bought all of her vintage wood hat blocks. This became the back bone of my collection and I now have over 300 blocks.

Please tell us about Bay Willow Design.
I don’t believe this but I have many customers that come to the shop and say what I’m doing is a dying art. Yes, there are not as many milliners in the US as there are in Australia or Europe but it is an art that is alive and well… just wait for the Royal wedding in May.

Four years ago my husband and I sold our house and downsized to a smaller home which unfortunately meant that I would lose my studio space. This is perhaps the best thing that happened to me. After the move, I searched for a studio space in downtown McKinney when I came across the space that I am currently in. It has a small shop with a large studio in the back. Before moving into the space, I was making hats for family, friends, and friends of friends. My move into downtown McKinney meant I had to step up my game (I was paying rent now)… I now make hats for the Kentucky Derby, Dallas Mad Hatter’s Tea, Ascot, bridal, and everything in between. My shop contains a number of ready-made hats but I am finding that most of my work is custom. Who doesn’t want a hat made especially for them?

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I think my favorite memory from childhood were family vacations. Every summer for two weeks, my mom and dad would load up the station wagon with our camping gear and we would take off to explore a particular area of the US or Canada. I loved the trips out west the most. I’m from Minnesota, so traveling to the Rockies was thrilling for a kid that had never seen mountains.

Pricing:

• Custom straw hats can range in price from $145 to over $500 for a fancy derby hat
• Custom fur felt hats start at $155

Contact Info:

• Address: 222 E. Virginia Street
  Mckinney, TX 75069
• Website: www.baywillowdesign.com
• Phone: 469-617-3733
• Email: jmfoster@baywillowdesign.com
• Instagram: bay_willow
• Facebook: facebook.com/baywillowdesign

Image Credit:
Azure Photography

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