Hoed van grijs stro en grijze tule c. 1935 - 1938

This hat of grey straw and grey tulle was crafted by Hartje. I love the straw that makes up the body of the hat itself; it’s so tactile, so touchable! I can just imagine Hartje carefully selecting each piece, weaving them together to form this elegant shape. You know, it makes me wonder what they were thinking as they worked? Were they imagining the grand events where this hat would be worn, or were they simply lost in the process of creation? Notice the delicate tulle that wraps around the hat like a soft cloud. It's these kinds of touches that really elevate a piece, don't you think? The soft, almost ethereal quality of the tulle against the more grounded texture of the straw… And then, those little red accents that give the piece a little bit of playfulness. It’s like Hartje is winking at us, reminding us that fashion should be fun, and that art exists not only in museums, but in all the beautiful things we choose to create and wear.