An American born in Germany, Jasmin Zorlu spent her formative years in the wonderlands of Japan and Iceland, traveling often and extensively with her family. Off to the University of Michigan for college, it wasn't until her last year of studying art history and studio art that she discovered her calling. Jasmin enrolled in a millinery class offered through the theatrical department. She was hooked! She started designing and selling her creations in a weekend artisan's market in Ann Arbor after graduation. While still in Michigan, a mutual friend connected her to an apprenticeship with Rod Keenan. Studying accessory design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, she then worked with master theatrical milliners Woody Shelp and Rodney Gordon as well as fine milliners James Coviello and Tracy Watts. While in New York City, she collaborated with artists, performance artists, costume designers, and filmmakers.
Heavily inspired by the Art Deco Era, Jasmin Zorlu Millinery employs innovative materials such as fish skin (leather), abalone shells, reclaimed cashmere, and crinoline with fruit bags to create futuristic headwear which transcend traditional notions of design and time. Eschewing employment of trims like flowers, ribbons, and feathers, her hats reveal their form simply and sculpturally. The ‘freeform blocked’ headwear can be worn in a variety of ways, so buying one hat gives the freedom of having at least 5 different hats.
Jasmin Zorlu Millinery aims to create exciting headwear for individuals and companies which will achieve heirloom status and be fresh in the 22nd century. She also designs lines of cut & sewn fabric headwear for major hat companies like Goorin Brothers. At Goorin, she developed new silhouettes by taking existing headwear styles and hybridizing them.
[Portrait: Shelly Moon Photography]
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In October of 2002, she expanded her clientele to Europe, with the prestigious Chelsea Crafts Fair, put on by the Crafts Council of Britain. In fall of 2003, she sold to Barneys New York, nearly selling out. And this was the year that the beautiful and talented Erykah Badu, an R&B singer, commissioned three 'Molecular Mermaid Helmets.' Musicians Tom Waits and Neil Young have also bought her hats. In May of 2007, Jasmin Zorlu debuted a special collection of handmade cashmere dresses which were made to go with her hats for a fashion show entitled 'Kinetic' at the deYoung Museum.
In 2009, Four of Jasmin Zorlu's cocktail hats (with one gracing the cover) appeared in 'Hatwalk', a calendar whose sales benefited the Asian American Cancer Support Network.
Jasmin Zorlu was voted 'Best Hatmaker' by SF Weekly's 'Best of San Francisco 2009' and is a 2009 'Hatty Award' recipient by Hat Life, the Headwear and Millinery Industry's #1 resource. |
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