Janie Lashford started working with fabric at the age of 5 years old. In her early 20’s she studied a Degree in Fashion and Textiles at Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology in Cheltenham. She then decided to move to London where there would be more opportunities for a career in Fashion and Textiles.

She became fascinated with Millinery: the Ultimate Fashion Accessory. Janie’s next step was to study Couture Millinery at The London College of Fashion. She was taught by the Royal Couturier Marie O’ Reagan. These studies influenced a career move and she was to become a Costume / Props Maker in Films and Theatre. Janie created Historic Textiles , Head – dresses , Hats , Armour , Wings and Giant Mice and Bees. She also remembers creating a Giant Hamburger, Jelly, Blue Rabbit, Tea Cake, Clock, Cauliflower, Tea Pot and Red Herring and all  with dancers inside them! Her West End Shows include Time, Phantom of the Opera, Chess and Cats. Her Film Work includes Highlander, Dangerous Liaisons and Batman.

Ready for a different challenge, in 1989 Janie moved back to her roots, the Cotswolds, and back to Fashion. She established Janie Lashford’s Hats and Head – dresses a purely fashion based Couture Milliners. Her Ateliers were based in Cheltenham Spa and Droitwich Spa. Her clients were Mother’s-of-the-Bride, Brides, Bar mitzvah Hosts and Guests, attendees at Royal Garden Parties and Investitures and Racing Enthusiasts.

By 1997 Janie was ready to share her vast knowledge with others, so she trained to be a teacher. She taught Recreational Couture Millinery Courses throughout Worcestershire and Gloucestershire Colleges and she was ‘head hunted’ to teach City & Guilds Millinery for Tile Hill College, Coventry. Building on this experience by 2002 it was time for Janie to branch out on her own and so she set up her own Couture Millinery School at the end of her garden.

Janie Lashford’s School of Millinery now offers the largest variety of Hat Making Courses in the country. Her Couture Millinery School  offers 16 Short Courses, City & Guilds , One-to-One Intensives and Group Bookings. Her Traditional Couture Millinery Courses are suitable for beginners and experienced Milliners. She teaches no more than 6 students at a time to enhance maximum learning potential. Janie’s Short Courses are for a duration of two or three days and consist of mid – week , part weekend or weekend courses. Her City & Guilds Courses are 20 days long and are run one – weekend – a – month for 10 months in succession. The School is open all year round. Janie Lashford’s School of Millinery is situated at Bowers Hill, a hamlet of 13 houses on the northern most edge of the Cotswolds.

At our February Exeter Show and our April Shepton Mallet Show Janie will be demonstrating how to make Couture Headpieces using Traditional Millinery Materials and Traditional Millinery Techniques.

Janie’s demonstrations will take place on her stand.

She will also be available to answer all your Millinery questions.

All the images on this page were created by students whilst studying at Janie Lashford’s School of Millinery. www.themillineryschool.co.uk