Valéria Fazekas

Timeless values

• Valéria made her first hat as a graduation project
• Technique is her tool for self-expression
• She sees her pieces as sculptural objects

Valéria Fazekas founded her studio in 1994 in Budapest, where she designs, develops and handcrafts the collections herself, including hats and apparel pieces. A sense of experimentation can be felt throughout her work, which often has a playful, bold and surprising touch. She experiments with the mobility and structure of objects, using geometrical forms and diverse colours. Her hats can be worn in multiple ways and interpreted from a variety of perspectives, characterised by the play between symmetry and asymmetry. Fazekas believes that her pieces communicate and select their wearers, not the other way around. For her, the greatest recognition is when other artists wear her creations, for example a designer for Prada or a male choreographer of a contemporary dance theatre.

Interview

©Museum of Applied Arts Budapest

©Valéria Fazekas

What was the first hat you made?

I graduated from the Hungarian University of Arts and Design, specialising in Leather Accessories. For my graduation project, I designed a collection made of leather, from headwear to shoes, for an extravagant woman.

What techniques and materials do you use?

For me, technique is a tool, and that is what I am looking for in my objects. Under socialism, there was a shortage of hat materials; you had to be creative in the use of materials. I have developed a special technique with unusual materials.

Is there a tradition of hat making in Hungary?

Budapest was known for high-quality artisanal shoes, gloves and hats, but then these professions became almost extinct. Craftsmanship started to revive after the regime change in 1989. These accessories have a different kind of value, not influenced by fashion.

What is your advice for the younger milliners?

Try all kinds of materials and old and new methods, because that’s the only way to go forward. You need to know several techniques in order to find your own way. They are the tools to express yourself.

Valéria Fazekas is a master artisan: she began her career in 1987 and she started teaching in 1992

Works

©Ágnes Soltészné Haranghy

©Ágnes Soltészné Haranghy

©Ágnes Soltészné Haranghy

©Benedek Regős

©Iván Jaksity

Where