Filipa Cardoso

MEET THE MAKER

I’m Filipa Cardoso and I’m a milliner designing and hand-making couture occasion hats for three years now. I’ve started my millinery career by interning with a renown London based milliner and after that I’ve graduated in Fashion and Textiles – Millinery. I now work for John Boyd Hats alongside working for my business. My hats are all handmade and sold online.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

I aim to establish a millinery atelier in London for handmade hats for weddings, races and other special occasions. Through my business idea I wish to explore traditional millinery craft techniques with a modern design. The Craft Council Business Program offered me training in different practical aspects of running a craft business such as accounting or website SEO. After the program, I entirely changed my approach to my website and SEO and I’m now in a process of redesigning my online presence. During my one to one session with Toyin Laketu I had the fantastic opportunity of having my website analysed and was given advice on how to improve it.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

• Importance of registering the business trade mark
• Importance of a well built website for e-commerce
• Joining craft, art or design directories helps SEO
• It’s fundamental to have a business bank account and separate accounts from your private finances
• If you decide to attend trade fairs you will have to attend multiple times. Attending once won’t generate the desired outcome