Hats Off

Before she became wine shop Leeder Quay's resident wine expert, airline industry veteran Bess Leeder had another passion-hatmaking

- Tara Sobti

In 2019, milliner and former flight attendant Bess Leeder, who founded her eponymous hat brand, opened popular Mui Wo neighbourhood wine shop Leeder Quay with her husband Solomon.

The wine shop recently established its second branch inside a historic building in Central. Here, the "air milliner" talks to Tatler about marrying her two passions.

What's the story behind your moniker "the air milliner", and what inspired you to launch Bess Leeder Millinery?

I spent a decade of my life mostly in the air, so I thought [calling myself "the air milliner"] would be a catchy label that would reflect who I am. I worked for Virgin Atlantic and travelled a lot to London. During my time off there, I was inspired by the city's millinery culture. I enrolled in a summer course with the London College of Fashion, which was then followed by a professional hat-making course with Prudence Millinery, the milliner for Vivienne Westwood. Bess Leeder Millinery was formed in 2012, around the time that my flying career was coming to an end.

What inspires your designs?

Coco Before Chanel [the 2019 film by Anne Fontaine]. I was totally in love with and inspired by the story, couture and art direction.

Do you have a signature design?