A New Chapter in Foremost's Commitment to Hat Culture
On 28 April 2026, as Foremost celebrated its 30th anniversary, heritage practitioners, designers and headwear specialists gathered at the Foremost Hat Museum in Nantong.
The gathering marked the beginning of the 101 Heritage Headwear initiative - a long-term exploration of how traditional Chinese craftsmanship can enter contemporary headwear while retaining the knowledge, identity and human stories behind it.
The project continues a commitment Foremost has pursued beyond manufacturing: studying the history of hats, preserving specialist knowledge and creating new possibilities for headwear culture.
101 Makers. 101 Works. A Living Expression of Heritage
The 101 Heritage Headwear initiative brings heritage practitioners into dialogue with Foremost designers, cultural researchers and headwear specialists.
The programme is being developed toward a collection of 101 original headwear works. Each collaboration begins with a traditional craft - its materials, techniques, symbolism and the knowledge held by its practitioner - and explores how that heritage can find a new expression through the form of a hat.
Together, the works will form a living record of Chinese craftsmanship: rooted in tradition, shaped by contemporary design and created to be experienced by audiences around the world.
When the Knowledge of the Hand Meets the Language ofDesign
Every collaboration begins with listening. Heritage practitioners introduce the materials, processes, meanings and cultural boundaries of their craft. Foremost designers then explore how those qualities can enter a headwear form through proportion, structure, colour and movement. During the first co-creation gathering, practitioners and designers worked in focused groups to develop early concepts. AI-assisted visualisation helped make ideas visible during the conversation, while cultural direction and creative decisions remained in human hands.
Craft Traditions, Seen Through Headwear
Created Today. Preserved for What Comes Next
The 101 Heritage Headwear initiative is being developed as more than a temporary exhibition. Completed works are planned to become part of a dedicated collection at the Foremost Hat Museum, preserving the story of each craft, its practitioner and the collaboration behind the piece.
As the collection grows, Foremost plans to document its creation through film, photography and research, while introducing selected works to wider audiences through exhibitions and cultural exchange.
In this way, the museum becomes a place where heritage is collected, studied and continually brought into new conversations.
