Teenage Hat Maker

TRANSCRIPT
Teenage Hat Maker

NARRATOR:
How can we protect our heritage when traditional industries are at risk of disappearing? Luton was once known as the hat-making capital of the world, but while hundreds of factories were thriving in Victorian times, very few are left today.
Now, 19-year-old James Anderson is determined to safeguard the craft that once defined the town’s identity.

SOUNDBITE – James Anderson:
“Go anywhere in Luton, you've got buildings named after it. The local football club, the hatters, they've got boaters on their logos. The hat itself is on so much iconography unique to Luton. Nobody's making them here. So I took that upon myself. I brought the machinery back to life. It's a red endangered craft on the UK Heritage crafts list and to see it die out like this would be a real cultural loss to the local area.”

NARRATOR:
With a background in engineering, James has restored antique machines to produce traditional boater hats. A person who designs and makes hats is called a ‘milliner’. The craft doesn’t only belong to his hometown. It runs in his family.

SOUNDBITE – James Anderson:
“My great grandmother was a milliner and my great grandfather worked in a hat materials warehouse. This was my great grandfather's retirement watch and now it's my everyday watch. I think he would have been very proud.”

NARRATOR:
Straw hats have been made in Luton since the 17th century. A hundred years ago, over 70 million hats were produced in Luton every year.

 SOUNDBITE - Mavi Tzaig:
“Boaters used to be made out of straw that was plaited in the area and the Luton area is particularly good for long straw. So local weavers would harvest the straw and plait it and have it ready in big sacks and bring them to a factory like this to have them woven.”

NARRATION:
Today, only a few remain in the trade, and that decline poses a threat to this cultural heritage. James hopes his work will instil a sense of pride in the community and encourage others to value what has been cherished for generations.