Mühlbauer

Hat maker to the stars, family milliner business Mühlbauer’s designs began over a hundred years ago and now fly from Vienna to top some of the most famous heads in the world. 

The creation of a hat is a fascinating process and no more so than the traditional techniques favoured at Mühlbauer.

The hat that you choose will have come on a long, handcrafted journey which includes the material being shaped on a smooth block, dried in a special hat drying oven then trimmed to size. 

Mühlbauer’s hats cover a full spectrum of taste from quirky fascinators to straw pillboxes, hand-painted porkpies to braided fedoras, berets, caps and visors. The collection is energised twice a year with new pieces to add to the business’ repertoire.

The white-on-white store in Vienna where a single hat in the window turns heads, is a homage to all thing hats, and browsing the headwear, placed individually like works of art, is a pleasure to behold. 

Now in its fourth generation, Julianna Mühlbauer began her business as a small millinery with shop attached in Vienna in 1903. Her son, Robert, brought the hat shop to the fore, and was credited with making Mühlbauer synonymous with high quality hats throughout Vienna.

But it was Klaus Mühlbauer, who leads the charge today, who moved the brand into the international arena. Breathing fresh air and sharp design into the company to ensure it moved with the times, he transformed the traditional company into a world-renowned label.

By collaborating with Nora Berger and Madeline Bujatti, he designs collections that are supported by experienced artisans, high quality materials and a dedication to produce exceptional quality.