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Guest Designers
Exceptional makers. Distinctive voices. Inspiring experiences.
At Rachael Clunie Millinery, our retreats and masterclasses are shaped by the people who teach them.
We invite a carefully selected group of guest designers and specialist makers, each chosen for their individual creative vision, technical expertise and contribution to the world of millinery.
From couture and contemporary design to film, theatre and specialist craftsmanship, every guest brings something different — offering participants the opportunity to learn directly from practising professionals at the very heart of their craft.
Our guest designers do more than demonstrate a technique. They share the thinking, experience and creative processes behind their work through intimate, hands-on teaching, allowing you to ask questions, experiment and develop the skills in your own way.
Maor Zabar
Milliner | Costume Designer | Multidisciplinary Artist
Internationally recognised milliner, costume designer and multidisciplinary artist Maor Zabar is known for his extraordinary approach to headwear, combining traditional craftsmanship with sculpture, storytelling, colour and an unmistakable sense of humour.
The grandson of a tailor, Maor developed a love of fabric and making from an early age. He went on to study Fashion and Costume Design at Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Tel Aviv, graduating in 2003 before establishing his own studio and building an award-winning career designing costumes for theatre, opera and dance.
Having long been fascinated by hats, Maor pursued millinery alongside his costume work and in 2014 established his eponymous atelier, Maor Zabar Hats. His highly distinctive handcrafted pieces blur the boundaries between millinery, sculpture and wearable art, drawing inspiration from nature, art, fashion history and the unexpected.
His work has gained international recognition and has been exhibited around the world. In 2017, Maor was honoured with his first solo museum exhibition at the Museu da Chapelaria in Portugal, showcasing more than 80 hats from eight of his collections. His work has since continued to appear in international exhibitions and museums, including the Design Museum Holon.
Maor’s costume career is equally distinctive. His work spans theatre, opera and dance, and he designed the unforgettable costume worn by Netta Barzilai for her winning performance at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.
Alongside his design practice, Maor teaches internationally, sharing both traditional skills and innovative techniques developed through his own experimentation with materials and form. His approach encourages makers to look beyond conventional millinery, explore unexpected possibilities and develop their own creative language.
As a Rachael Clunie Millinery Guest Designer, Maor brings that spirit of experimentation, humour and creative freedom to our retreats and masterclasses, offering participants the opportunity to learn directly from one of contemporary millinery’s most distinctive creative voices.
Sophie Lambe
Theatrical Milliner | Film • Television • Costume
Sophie Lambe is an accomplished theatrical milliner with more than three decades of experience across film, television, theatre and opera. Through her studio, Reel Millinery, she combines traditional millinery craftsmanship with the highly specialised demands of costume production for stage and screen.
Originally trained in sculpture, Sophie went on to study Couture Millinery with Rose Cory before spending four years in the Hat & Jewellery Department at the Royal Opera House. She later became Head of Costume for the world tour of Riverdance, returning to full-time professional millinery for film and television in 2015.
Her extensive screen career has seen her work as Head Milliner on major productions including Wicked, Wicked: For Good, Snow White, Hamnet, Artemis Fowl, Victoria & Abdul, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Fantastic Beasts, with wider credits including Harry Potter, Bridgerton, Paddington 2, Emma, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Enola Holmes 2 and Masters of the Air.
As Head Milliner on Wicked, Sophie worked from Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell’s designs to develop and create the distinctive hats worn by Elphaba, producing numerous prototypes to achieve the final silhouette while meeting the practical demands of filming, stunt work and close-up photography.
Sophie is a Director of the British Hat Guild and a member of BAFTA and the British Millinery Association. Passionate about preserving traditional millinery skills and passing them on to future generations, she brings a fascinating insight into the specialist craftsmanship, creativity and problem-solving that takes place behind the scenes of major film and television productions.
A different perspective every time
No two RCM experiences are intended to be the same.
Our guest designers are selected to bring different skills, backgrounds and approaches to millinery, giving participants the opportunity to continually expand their creative vocabulary.
Some come from couture and fashion. Others from theatre, film, sculpture or specialist craftsmanship.
What they share is an exceptional level of expertise and a willingness to pass that knowledge on in a relaxed, intimate and inspiring environment.
As the Rachael Clunie Millinery retreat and masterclass programme continues to grow, so too will our community of guest designers.
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