Take home John Boyd Roosevelt's Spam Hat made of tin and feathers for the London Olympics!
This hat was one of the bespoke pieces created for the London Olympics inspired event, the London HATWALK 2012. Curated by world renowned British milliners, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy; HATWALK brought together 21 emerging and established designers to showcase British millinery at its very best. The one day event, which saw bespoke hats designed for some of London’s statues, celebrated London’s standing as a global capital of millinery and emphasized its rich heritage, bringing the sometimes overlooked statues to life in new exciting ways. Mayor Boris Johnson said: "You’ve got to take your hats off to London. Our city is a melting pot of creativity right at the forefront of global fashion and design. The cutting edge style and imagination of London’s millinery talent is feted worldwide, and is setting the international catwalks."
Mr. Boyd designed the hat for Roosevelt’s statue as a witty tribute to the large shipments of SPAM which were part of the Lend-Lease agreement between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941. Known as 'Hands across the Sea', the Lend-Lease Act allowed the U.S to lend arms, food, raw material and other items to be repaid later. A large portion of the shipments contained SPAM tinned meat and was sent over the dangerous submarine infested Atlantic. Mr Boyd's brother shipped thousands of such supplies and was torpedoed three times on these journeys. The soldiers were fed a huge amount of SPAM and Mr Boyd himself had it on the landing craft he was on in the D-Day landings. Lend-Lease was a critical factor in the eventual success of the Allies in World War II. The SPAM hat was made using a reinforced cardboard similar to a plywood effect, which was hand cut and painted, the pieces were assembled with small nuts and bolts. The prime ostrich feathers were hand dyed and attached to the hat with a wire. The peak has been designed to look like the lid of the SPAM tin opening. Hand painted on the front of the hat is the first verse of the song ‘This is the Army Mr Jones’ by Irving Berlin, the American composer whose songs were very popular during the War.
John Boyd’s artistry as a milliner is legendary. His rich and rewarding career is now in its sixth decade, and he is known and respected throughout the trade as an inspirational and highly in fluential designer and craftsman. Known worldwide for his creations for the late Diana, Princess of Wales and The Princess Royal, Mr Boyd’s Royal patronage has seen his hats adorn the front pages of many newspapers. He has work in the archives of the nearby Victoria & Albert Museum. The showroom is an Aladdin’s Cave, the walls lined with ladies’ hats of all shapes and colours, and to flatter any face and suit any occasion. A small team of experienced milliners work under Mr Boyd’s guidance, creating bespoke hats on site using traditional techniques and materials. Modern styles that incorporate the glamour and elegance of past eras characterise the John Boyd aesthetic. His designs range from the discreet and delicate to the dramatic and flamboyant. Handmade bows, flowers, feathers and veiling adorn brims both classic and contemporary.
