Sinamay is one of the most popular hat-making foundations in the world. It is woven from the processed stalks of the abaca tree, a banana palm native to the Philippines. Abaca fibre is three times stronger than cotton or silk, and a fabric made from 100% abaca can last for over 100 years. As a result, sinamay holds a very firm shape. Because it is a natural fibre, it holds colour beautifully.
Sinamay is a versatile foundation material which can be used to create all kinds of stunning hat shapes. The uses of sinamay in millinery are impossible to count. It can be used to create complex layered constructions as well as classic brims and sturdy hat bases. It is also pliable and can be used to stunning effect in free-shaping.
This unique material was introduced into Australian millinery in 1990 by Waltraud Reiner. With its gorgeous and expanding range of colours, its firm yet pliable texture and its boundless versatility, it has since become one of the most popular foundation materials for hat-making in Australia.
Waltraud's first millinery video, produced in 2003, was a a tutorial on free-shaping with sinamay.
If you'd like to try working with sinamay yourself but don't know how to use it, you can book into one of our workshops with Waltraud - have a look at our workshop scheduleand see what's on.
Since Waltraud first brought sinamay to Australia in the 1990s, our students have produced hundreds of amazing sinamay designs. Have a look at the possibilities below and fall in love with this wonderfully versatile material.
