Gabriela Ligenza
Gabriela Ligenza is a London millinery label founded by the Polish-born hat designer of the same name. It creates couture hats from its workshop and boutique on Ellis Street, and has been stocked by boutiques worldwide.
| Designer | Gabriela Ligenza |
|---|---|
| Born | Poland, 1959 |
| Base | Ellis Street, London |
| Stockists | More than 80 boutiques worldwide |
| Website | gabrielaligenza.com |
What is Gabriela Ligenza?
Gabriela Ligenza is a millinery brand based in London, founded by the hat designer Gabriela Ligenza. Born in Poland in 1959, she moved abroad with her husband in the 1980s and settled in London, where her career in hats began.
History
The business started almost by chance: Ligenza made a hat for herself, friends admired it and encouraged her to design a full collection. She then approached fashion shops with her work, and her hats went on to be sold in more than eighty boutiques around the world. Her workshop and boutique on Ellis Street in London has been the base of the business for more than two decades.
Products and positioning
The label makes couture hats known for their sculptural shapes, using materials such as straw, horsehair, silk, cloth and suede. Its clients have included well-known personalities and members of the aristocracy, making the brand a reference for occasion and event millinery.
Distribution
Hats are sold from the Ellis Street boutique and through selected fashion boutiques internationally.
Why it matters
Gabriela Ligenza is an example of a designer-led millinery house that built an international wholesale following from a single London workshop, keeping hat making as a craft rather than a mass product.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Gabriela Ligenza?
Gabriela Ligenza is a Polish-born milliner based in London who designs couture hats under her own name.
Where is the Gabriela Ligenza shop?
Her workshop and boutique are on Ellis Street in London.